Butterflies & moths to look for in August — Gatekeeper Butterfly
Photo credit: Duerden Cormack
Where to look
To see one, look in tall grass close to hedges, trees or scrub, or anywhere with Bramble flowers, which are one of its favourite nectar sources. The adults don’t fly for very long and most have gone by the end of August. In warm, dry summers they can be seen in greater numbers.
Description
The gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) is also commonly known as the hedge brown, but over the last 300 years has been recorded as many other names including the Hedge Eye with Double Specks! Their modern name probably comes from their habit of fluttering in gateways and hedgerows, with the male making small territories.
The males and females look similar, but the males have a dark brown smudgy line on their forewings known as an androconica or ‘sex brand’. These patches are made up of special wing scales from which chemicals called pheromones are released to attract females. In many other species, the sex brand of the male can’t be seen.
For more info see https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/gatekeeper
For more info see https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/gatekeeper
Spottings
Tamsin
“Think this must be a male from its markings.”
Tamsin
Where we've found Gatekeeper Butterflies
Gatekeeper Butterfly spottings journal (4 seen)
| Last seen | Location | Spotted by | Group | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 2024 | Stroud Valleys Project | |||
| 22 Aug 2022 | Stroud Valleys Project | |||
| 21 Jul 2021 | Hamwell Leaze | Tamsin | Stroud Valleys Project | Think this must be a male from its markings. |
| 14 Jul 2020 | QE2 field stroud | Tamsin | Stroud Valleys Project |
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