Latin name - Maniola jurtina

Flight period - June to September

Wingspan 4 to 6 cm, 1.58 to 2.4 inch.

The Meadow Brown is a medium-sized butterfly and is one of the commonest grassland butterflies in the United Kingdom. It flies even in the dullest weather when other butterflies are inactive. It is a relatively large butterfly, has orange patches on the forewings only, one eyespot on the forewing and none at all on the hindwings. The Meadow Brown has only one small white 'pupil' in the eyespots, instead of two like the Gatekeeper. Caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses but finer leaved grasses such as fescues, bents and meadow-grasses are preferred.