Meadow Brown butterfly

Maniola jurtina

family - Satyridae (Browns)

Image of Meadow Brown butterfly

The Meadow Brown butterfly has light brown bands across the underside of the hindwing. The underside of the forewing is light brown (at the edge) and tan/orange with a single white spot in a black eyespot.

The upperside of the male is dark brown. Females are orange and brown on the upperside.


My personal observations of the Meadow Brown butterfly

months seen in my garden: June, July and August

garden plants that attract this species:

Buddleia, Ceanothus, Clethra, Field Scabious, Hebe, Heliotrope, Hydrangea, Lavender, Lobelia, Marigold, Marjoram, Thyme, Virginian Stock

butterfly sightings 2005:

My first sighting of a Meadow Brown butterfly was on 18 June
Meadow Brown at Clattinger Farm, 26 June
Meadow Brown on Red Clover at Clattinger Farm, 26 June
Meadow Brown with snail at Clattinger Farm, 26 June
Meadow Brown on Buddleia Lochinch, 3 July
Meadow Brown on Hebe, 3 July
Meadow Brown on Knapweed at Badbury Rings, 13 July
Meadow Brown on Marjoram, 26 July
Meadow Brown on Ragwort, 31 July
Meadow Brown on Autumn Hawkbit?, 31 July
Meadow Brown on Ragwort, 31 July
Meadow Brown on Agrimony, 31 July
Seen in garden, 3 August
Seen at Barrow Wake, 18 August
Seen in Cirencester Park, 20 August
Seen at Whitesheet hill, 21 August

butterfly sightings 2004:

Meadow Brown on Wild Thyme, 19 June
Meadow Brown on Hebe, 25 June
Meadow Brown on Verbena, 25 June
Meadow Brown, 1 July

Best slides of 2003:

Meadow Brown On Field Scabious. Uley, Gloucestershire. July 12.

Meadow Brown On Field Scabious. Uley, Gloucestershire. July 12.

Meadow Brown Top view. Golden Valley, Gloucestershire. July 8.

Meadow Brown Top view. Fontmell Down, Dorset. August 10.

Meadow Brown On Bramble. Golden Valley, Gloucestershire. July 8.

Meadow Brown 2 together. North Meadow, Cricklade, Wiltshire. Evening. June 20.

Best digital images of 2003:

Only 21 digital images from 2003; I've selected six to represent this butterfly species.

thumbnail link On Buddleia. August 7.

thumbnail link On Buddleia. August 4.

thumbnail link Backlit. On Verbena. July 27.

thumbnail link On Clethra at Stourhead Gardens, Wiltshire. August 12.

thumbnail link Side view. Hindwing covering spot on forewing to camoflage. On Fontmell Down, Dorset. August 11.

thumbnail link Top side of wings visible. On Fontmell Down, Dorset. August 12.

A selection of images from past years:

5 September 2002, on Scabious at Westonbirt
12 July 2002, resting on Honeysuckle.
6 July 2002, on Bramble.
thumbnail link
28 June 2001
, on Lavender.
2 August 2000, on Knapweed.
4 August 1999, on Buddleia weyeriana with Peacock
4 August 1999, on Marjoram.
thumbnail link
11 July 1999, on Lavender.
30 June 1999, on Ox-Eye Daisy.

observations:

The Meadow Brown is said to be the commonest butterfly in the English countryside. I initially thought that it was not a common visitor in my garden but then I counted how many garden plants had been visited by Meadow Brown butterflies and realised that I was wrong.

The Meadow Brown butterfly seems to be primarily interested in Buddleia, Hebe and Verbena bonariensis. Lavender and Marjoram are also good plants for this butterfly.

Reference Section

Size: 50-55mm (same size as Small White - see list of butterflies by size)

First Generation flight period: June-September
Second Generation flight period: September-October

Larval Food Plants: Grasses
Wild Nectar Plants: Ox-eye Daisy, Bramble, Ragwort

Identified by the one white pupil in the black eyespot on the forewing; the Gatekeeper is twin-pupilled

Family Group: Satyridae - see list of butterflies by family

This page last updated: 9 December, 2005