Gatekeeper or Hedge Brown butterfly
Image details
Contributor:
Niall Ferguson / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
2RGG03AFile size:
23.8 MB (1.7 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
3222 x 2578 px | 27.3 x 21.8 cm | 10.7 x 8.6 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
25 July 2023Location:
Thursley Common, Lower House Road, Bowlhead Green, Thursley GU8 6NW ·More information:
The gatekeeper or hedge brown (Pyronia tithonus) is a European species of butterfly. Given its preference for warmer weather, the restriction of range expansion can be assumed to be due to climate. Colonies vary in size depending on the available habitat, and can range from a few dozen to several thousand butterflies It is a member of the subfamily Satyrinae in the family Nymphalidae. A similar species is the meadow brown; the two species can be difficult to distinguish with closed wings, since the underwing markings are very similar.The gatekeeper is orange with two large brown spots on its wings and a brown pattern on the edge of its wings. The eyespots on the fore wings most likely reduce bird attacks, therefore the gatekeeper is often seen resting with its wings open. A large number of aberrant forms are known, such as excessa, where specimens have two to four extra spots on the fore wing upperside. The number of spots on the hind wing underside also varies