Latin Etymology: Pyronia ("corn buying") tithonus (after a mythical Trojan figure)
Adult male Gatekeeper (subspecies P. t. brittaniae) at Geddington, Northants - August 2009
Featured Subspecies: Pyronia tithonus brittaniae
Length: ? / Wingspan: 40-47mm
UK Status: Least Concern / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated
The Gatekeeper is a moderately common butterfly found mainly on the edges of fields and in hedgerows - their food plants being largely long grasses while the adults prefer to frequent areas with blackberry plants. This species has increased it's range in the UK over the past several decades, expanding Northwards. They are a relatively common and should be able to be be found relatively easily.
Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Pyronia
SUBSPECIES: P. t. brittaniae, P. t. tithonus
- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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