Meadow Brown
Maniola jurtina
Unlike many butterflies that only fly in bright sunshine, the Meadow Brown is remarkably active even on cool, overcast days.
- Scientific name
- Maniola jurtina
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Nymphalidae › Maniola
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Meadows, pastures, road verges, waste ground, and grassy woodland clearings.
- Diet
- Adults feed on nectar from wildflowers like knapweed, bramble, and thistles; caterpillars feed on various wild grasses.
- Range
- Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Western Asia
- Size
- Wingspan of 40 to 60 mm.
- Lifespan
- 5 to 12 days as an adult; up to 1 year total lifespan including larval stages.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss due to intensive agriculture, development, over-mowing of wild grasslands, and pesticide use.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless. You can safely observe this butterfly from any distance. Avoid touching its wings, as handling can rub off the delicate scales needed for flight. If one lands on you, stay still and enjoy the encounter.
The meadow brown ( Maniola jurtina ) is a butterfly found in the Palearctic realm. Its range includes Europe south of 62°N, Russia eastwards to the Urals, Asia Minor, Iraq, Iran, North Africa and the Canary Islands. The larvae feed on grasses.
Photo: Céline, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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