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The gatekeeper or hedge brown (Pyronia tithonus) Given its preference for warmer weather, the restriction of range expansion can be assumed to be due to climate.
Named for its rigorous patrol of hedges and woodland rides, the gatekeeper butterfly is a prime pollinator. Look for them sipping nectar on sunny days in the summer.
Adults: medium-sized orange and brown butterflies. They are easy to identify - look out for the black spot near the wing tip that usually contains two tiny white dots. Male and female gatekeepers are similar in appearance, but male gatekeepers have a prominent band of dark scales running diagonally across the forewings. They are also noticeably smaller than the females.
Gatekeeper | Pyronia tithonus | Nymphalidae
Samsung NX1 & Kiron 105mm f/2.8 Macro
Wide Open | Manual Focus | Available Light | Handheld
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The trend away from too much ‘tidying up’ in the countryside has boosted gatekeeper numbers – they need long grass and the kind of scrub that thrives when old woods regenerate.
They are widespread across southern Britain and frequently found flitting around your ankles from flower to flower. If you’re really lucky, you might even encounter a colony numbering in the thousands. The males make small territories – sometimes a single shrub – then fly up to meet likely females fluttering by.
The colour and patterns of the wings of the gatekeeper are variable and about a dozen aberrations (a variation in wing pattern to the normal form) have been named. Aberrations can occur for a number of reasons, including extremes in temperature, particularly while the butterfly is developing in its chrysalis.
The Gatekeeper is widespread in southern Britain and its range has extended northwards in recent years. Its range is far more localized in southern Ireland. The colour and patterning of the wings are variable and about a dozen aberrations have been named. Favourite nectar sources include Wild Marjoram, Common Fleabane, ragworts, and Bramble.
Over here, July and August are always great months to see and photograph butterflies.
Finding a suitable composition in the vegetation is always a bit of a challenge, but patience usually pays off.
A pretty orange and brown butterfly, the Gatekeeper is widespread and common across central and southern counties of England and Wales, often seen in mid-summer basking in hedgerows in the warm summer sunshine, or feeding on nectar from Bramble Flowers, Wild Marjoram or Common Ragwort, although it will feed from many other plants as well.
Taken @ Kidwelly quay
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Gatekeeper - Pyronia Tithonus
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Hat: Shinobi by Azoury. You can still grab it for a reduced price for Lazy Sunday at Azoury Mainstore or Azoury MP Store
Pose: Set 273 by SAPA Poses, available now at Anthem, afterwards at the SAPA Poses Mainstore
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Backdrop: Featuring parts of Don't Go Out, a group gift by Varonis x Deadly End Door by CerberusXing x Insomnia Angel.
As usual, if you're curious about the raw shot, you can find it on my blog. Check it out!
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Links:
Full size and stuff: flic.kr/p/2oAWaSb
Raw shot and stuff: thebaseofbadideas.com/2023/05/17/gatekeeper/
Gatekeepers or Hedge Browns are so called because of their tendency to congregate near gates and hedges. Males and females are similar, the main difference is that the male has dark smudges on it's wings. Their main food plants are ragwort and brambles.
A gatekeeper butterfly seen along the Cotswold Way public footpath between Aggs Hill and Prestbury Hill nature reserve in Gloucestershire.
Male Gatekeeper.
Despite being a very common butterfly these can be tricky to get good shots of.
This was taken on the day that I had my first of the year so he was very fresh.
He was right in the middle of a small bush but fortunately there was an opening where the 300mm lens could get through.
Many people still like to call this species by its older name, Hedge Brown.
A gatekeeper butterfly basking in the summer sunshine in the masts field at Prestbury Hill nature reserve.