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Pyronia tithonus
This species is widespread and common in the whole of the county. Both Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown peak in late July or early August, and in some years Gatekeeper is so numerous, it overtakes Meadow Brown to claim the number one spot for the commonest species of the year. In high summer it can be found along any sunny, sheltered hedgerow and sunny woodland ride. It lives in well-defined colonies ranging from a few dozen to many thousands.
In flight, a female Gatekeeper can easily be mistaken for a female Meadow Brown but when perched and viewed close-up, it should be relatively straightforward separating the two species. A female Meadow Brown has a large patch of orange on the forewing, whilst a female Gatekeeper has very extensive orange on all four wings. As for the male Gatekeeper, it also has orange on all four wings, but it has very large dark-brown sex brands on the forewings.
With wings, partially closed, the background of the forewing is a burnt-orange, and the large eye-spot has two white pupils (a Meadow Brown usually has just one white pupil). The hindwings have a row of white rings, each white ring surrounded by a brown halo.
Between 2006-2024 an “average first sighting” was June 22nd (range, June 6th to July 9th). Peak numbers are usually seen in late July/early August. Within this millennium the flight period is beginning earlier and finishing later. The “average last sighting” was September 3rd (range, August 11th to October 12th).
The eggs are laid on a variety of medium and fine-leaved grasses, including a variety of fescues, bent and meadow grass.
This species is very common and ubiquitous.
Female on Kidney Vetch – photo by Martin Kalaher
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Male at rest
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Female nectaring on Field Scabious
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Undersides showing two pupils in the eyespot
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Male at rest
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A mating pair
Butterfly Conservation Gatekeeper
