Meadow brown
It keeps flying in dull weather that grounds most other butterflies, even under cloud and light drizzle.
| Where | Grassland, meadows, road verges, woodland rides |
|---|---|
| Size | 40 to 60 mm wingspan |
| When | June to September |
It is one of the most numerous butterflies in Europe, often dozens in a single field in July.
The caterpillars feed on grasses at night and spend the winter growing slowly, feeding on mild days.
Traits
Habitat
Meadow
Colour
Brown, Yellow
Active
Day
To people
Harmless
Activity through the year
Often confused with
The speckled wood is dark with cream patches and flies in shade.
Smaller and brighter orange; its eyespot has two white pupils.
Questions
Is the Meadow brown dangerous to people?
The Meadow brown is harmless to people.
When can you see the Meadow brown?
The Meadow brown can be seen from June to September, by day.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Erik Larsen, Styrelsen for Grøn Arealomlægning og Vandmiljø/The Danish Agency for Green Land Use and Aquatic Environment (SGAV), CC BY 4.0, GBIF Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Brush-footed butterflies›Maniola
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.