Gatekeeper
Pyronia tithonus
The Gatekeeper or Hedge Brown as it is sometime known is usually found in gateways and along hedgerows. It is often seen in association with Meadow Brown butterflies. The Gatekeeper is an attractive butterfly with its bright orange/brown wings fringed with a wide earthy/grey brown and distinctive black and white eyespot.
The colour and patterning of the wings can be very variable and there are several named aberrations. They are particularly fond of feeding on Bramble and Ragwort.
Larval Food plants
Bents (Agrostis spp.)
Fescues (Festuca spp.)
Meadow-grasses (Poa spp.)
Common Couch (Elytrigia repens)
Habitat Requirements
The Gatekeeper can be found anywhere where tall grasses grow close to hedges, trees, or scrub, especially along hedgerows and woodland rides where there is a plentiful nectar source.
Warwickshire Status
Resident
Where to see the Gatekeeper
Harbury Spoilbank (WWT Reserve)
Rough Hill Wood (WWT Reserve)
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Other Species
Please select an alternative species from the list below.
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Steven Cheshire - Male |
First Sightings
First sighting dates are based on records of Gatekeeper submitted online. Please note that these dates are not updated retrospectively to include records submitted to the branch recorder in other forms.
| 03/07/2010 - Oxhouse Farm Drive |
| 02/07/2009 - Fenny Compton and Shotterswell |
| 03/07/2008 - Baddesley Colliery Site |
| 01/07/2007 - Ashlawn Cutting NR, Rugby |
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| The flight chart below is based on observations of the adult Gatekeeper in Warwickshire between 2005 and 2008. Peak periods are shown in dark green. |
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Warwickshire Distribution Maps base on Vice County (CV38) which includes Coventry and Solihull
Distribution of the Gatekeeper during the indicated period.
Key to Warwickshire Maps: sightings  1 2-9 10+ |
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