Small photograph of a Meadow Brown
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Great Yeldham
Male. 18 June 2011
Small photograph of a Meadow Brown
Click on the image to enlarge
Great Yeldham
Male. 18 June 2011
Small photograph of a Meadow Brown
Click on the image to enlarge
Great Yeldham
Female. 22 June 2011
Small photograph of a Meadow Brown
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Great Yeldham
Male. 25 June 2012
Small photograph of a Meadow Brown
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Great Yeldham
Female. 21 July 2011
Small photograph of a Meadow Brown
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Great Yeldham
Female. 21 July 2012
Small photograph of a Meadow Brown
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Great Yeldham
Female. 27 July 2009
Small photograph of a Meadow Brown
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Great Yeldham
Probably female. 2 Aug 2011
Small photograph of a Meadow Brown
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Great Yeldham
Female. 14 Aug 2010
Small photograph of a Meadow Brown
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Roseland House
23 Aug 2012
Small photograph of a Meadow Brown
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Roseland House
Female. 7 Sept 2012

The Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina

On most days in mid to late summer a scattering Meadow Browns can be seen in the paddock at Roseland House. The paddock was grazed up to 2011. In July 2010 they were slightly less common than Gatekeepers, becoming much scarcer from early August.

It is a common species in Yeldham, especially in meadows and grassy field margins and conservation strips.

It usually has only one brood per year, and overwinters as larvae. The larvae feed on a wide range of grasses. The pupae are suspended from grasses in May to August. Cutting areas of long grasses in that period may kill the pupae, cutting at other times is likely to kill the eggs and caterpillars. On June 15th in 2011, I saw over 20 adults flying in the paddock at Roseland House. The grass is not cut at any time. 2012 was a late year, none were seen here until June 25th, when 9 were seen on a warm day.

Meadow Browns are very shy and difficult to photograph with their wings open. The best times seem to be on days with bright intervals, as they warm up in sunshine just after a cloud has passed by.

Internal links: Butterfly list . Main Gallery . Daily records

External links to the Meadow Brown pages at: British Butterflies by Steven Cheshire . UK Butterflies by Peter Eeles
B.M. Cockayne database for forms and aberrations.

MOST SEEN ON ANY ONE DAY - Meadow Brown sightings at Roseland House, garden and paddock (from daily counts).
March April May June July August Sept Oct Notes
2011 0 0 0 15 15 5 0 0 July - early Aug v. wet. Grazing ceased in July.
2012 0 0 0 9 54 22 1 0 April - mid July v. wet. Aug - mid Sept dry.
2013 0 0 Winter wet, March and early April, cold.

AVERAGE SEEN PER COUNTING DAY - Meadow Brown sightings at Roseland House, garden and paddock (from daily counts).
March April May June July August Sept Oct Notes
2011 0 0 0 8.9 6.3 1.2 0 0
2012 0 0 0 1.9 19.4 8.0 0.04 0
2013 0 0
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20 May 2013