Maniola jurtina. (Linnaeus 1758) Commonly known as Meadow Brown,
Family: Nymphalidae
Flight period: May to September. One generation, with a long flight period.
Widespread and common throughout most of the British Isles and Europe. It is now considered as one of the commonest butterflies on the continent.
Habitat: A vast range of various habits including, forest edges, roadsides, hedgerows, dry and damp grasslands. This species has taken full advantage of “set aside land” which farmers are required to do because of agriculture legislation.
The female lays the egg on a blade of grass. The young caterpillar is bright green turning to a brownish yellow as it matures. A wide variety of grasses the larvae prefer, including: meadow grass (Poa trivialis) and smooth meadow grass (Poa pratensis)
Adults search for nectar on a vast range of wild and cultivated plants.