Male. Taken at Aston, Oxon., on June 2nd 2025. (© David Hastings)
(1/800th sec at f/11)

Male underside. Taken at Waterperry Wood, Oxon., on June 23rd 2021. (© David Hastings)
(1/500th sec at f11)

Female. Taken at Yoesden Bank, Bucks, on August 22nd 2015. (© David Hastings)
(1/400th sec at f14)

Female underside. Taken at Hackpen Hill, Oxon., on August 27th 2022. (© David Hastings)
(1/800th sec at f 11)

Mating pair. Taken at Waterperry Wood, Oxon., on June 18th 2017. (© David Hastings)
(1/640th sec at f14)

Female ab. alba. Taken at Crog Hill, Oxon., on August 4th 2021. (© David Hastings)
(1/400th sec at f11)

Description

Family: Satyrinae

Wing span: 42-46 mm

The male Meadow Brown has distinct sex brands on the upper surface of each forewing. The female differs from the male in having orange marks on its forewings. It also has brown tips to the forewing underside, and a more distinct line across the underside of the hindwing. There is an aberration which can occur in the female, where the usually fulvous patch of the forewings is replaced by white. This is called ab. alba.

Subspecies insularis occurs throughout the British Isles with the exception of Ireland, north-west Scotland, the Isle of Man and the Isles of Scilly. Subspecies splendida is found in north-west Scotland and the Isle of Man, cassiteridum is found on the Isles of Scilly, and iernes is found in Ireland.

The Meadow Brown occurs in a wide variety of grassland habitats such as downland, heathland, coastal dunes, meadows, roadside verges, hedgerows, woodland rides and clearings. It will also occur in urban habitats such as parks, large gardens, and cemeteries where grassy areas are left to grow tall.

There is one brood per year, with adults on the wing from early June to the end of September. The larva is the over-wintering stage.

Larval foodplants include various Bents, Fescues and Meadow grasses, Cock's-foot, Downy Oat-grass and False Brome.

Adults feed primarily on Bramble, Buttercups, Carline Thistle, Devil's-bit Scabious, Fleabane, Hemp Agrimony, Knapweeds, Marjoram, Privet, Ragwort, Selfheal, Teasel, Thistles and Yarrow.

The male is the most active of the two sexes and finds a mate either by patrolling, or by investigating any butterfly that flies past his perch. Females are normally only active when nectaring or egg-laying and spend most of their time resting near the ground. Here they sit camouflaged, with wings closed and forewings tucked beneath the hindwings. When disturbed, they raise their forewings to reveal a large eye spot that must appear threatening to any predator.

Least Concern

Earliest UK sighting: 25th May ; Latest UK sighting: 22nd September

Sightings