Regional Species


Gatekeeper
Pyronia tithonus

Photograph by Janet Graham

Regional Species

The Gatekeeper is a butterfly of rough places where tall grasses grow intermixed with brambles, bracken, scrub etc. In North Wales the butterfly only occurs in the lowlands and the distribution map shows a complete blank for the mountainous parts. Most farmland is unsuitable but where conditions are favourable the population density can be very high and overall this is still one of our commoner butterflies.

The adult is on the wing in high summer from about mid-July to the end of August and eggs are laid on various grasses such as bents and fescues. The resulting larvae overwinter as an early instar and only recommence feeding the following spring.

Superficially this butterfly resembles the Meadow Brown but it is smaller and has more orange on the wings.