Friday, 3 September, 2010 homebutterfliesmothseventspressrecordingprojectsreservemembershipmagazinedownloadaboutcontactlinks Butterflies of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina In the right habitat, the Meadow Brown can be the most abundant butterfly on the wing. They are often seen in large numbers feeding on Bramble alongside other grassland species such as the Gatekeeper and Ringlet. Like the Ringlet, the Meadow Brown will also fly in dull weather... even when its spotting with rain... when most other butterfly species are inactive. Larval Food plants Bents (Agrostis spp.) Fescues (Festuca spp.) Meadow-grasses (Poa spp.) Some coarser grasses are also used: False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata) Downy Oat-grass (Helictotrichon pubescens) Habitat Requirements The Meadow Brown occurs in a wide variety of grassland habitats such as meadows, roadside verges, hedgerows, woodland rides and clearings. It will also occur in urban habitats such as parks, large gardens, and cemeteries where grassy areas are left to grow tall. Meadow Browns like all other grassland butterfly species do not form breeding colonies on roadside verges or other grassy areas if they are regularly mown as this reduces the number of grass species, favours the stronger coarser grasses and removes vital nectar sources. Warwickshire Status Resident Where to see the Meadow Brown Harbury Spoilbank (WWT Reserve) Parliament Piece (WWT Reserve) Other Species Please select an alternative species from the list below. Bath White Black Hairstreak Black-veined White Brimstone Brown Argus Brown Hairstreak Camberwell Beauty Chalkhill Blue Chequered Skipper Clouded Yellow Comma Common Blue Dappled White Dark Green Fritillary Dingy Skipper Duke of Burgundy Essex Skipper Gatekeeper Geranium Bronze Green Hairstreak Green-veined White Grizzled Skipper High Brown Fritillary Holly Blue Large Skipper Large Tortoiseshell Large White Long-tailed Blue Map Marbled White Marsh Fritillary Mazarine Blue Meadow Brown Orange-tip Painted Lady Pale Clouded Yellow Peacock Pearl-bordered Fritillary Purple Emperor Purple Hairstreak Red Admiral Ringlet Silver-studded Blue Silver-washed Fritillary Small Blue Small Copper Small Heath Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Small Skipper Small Tortoiseshell Small White Speckled Wood Swallowtail Wall Brown White Admiral White-letter Hairstreak Wood White © Steven Cheshire - underside First Sightings First sighting dates are based on records of Meadow Brown submitted online. Please note that these dates are not updated retrospectively to include records submitted to the branch recorder in other forms. 11/06/2010 - Ryton Wood Meadows/Draycote Meadow 20/05/2009 - Ryton Woods 24/05/2008 - Middleton Hall 05/06/2007 - Pooley Fields, Polesworth © Steven Cheshire - female   © Steven Cheshire - male Adult Flight Times The flight chart below is based on observations of the adult Meadow Brown in Warwickshire between 2005 and 2008. Peak periods are shown in dark green. Warwickshire Distribution Maps base on Vice County (CV38) which includes Coventry and Solihull Distribution of the Meadow Brown during the indicated period. Key to Warwickshire Maps: sightings 12-910+       2007 Distribution Data (1yr)   2008 available soon   2009 Distribution Data (1yr)   2000-09 Distribution Data (10yr) © Butterfly Conservation WarwickshirePrivacy and Copyright Statement Butterfly Conservation is a non-profit-making company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468) Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)   Web site designed and maintained by Steven Cheshire