Pyronia tithonus

Pyronia tithonus – Gatekeeper

Gatekeepers (Pyronia tithonus) are one of commonest and most familiar butterfly. They rival Holly Blue in numbers in my garden, but certainly not for colour. Gatekeepers are rather dull but none the less welcome.

If I ever manage to capture one with wings akimbo I’ll change these snaps.

Eventually all is revealed…

The white ‘double pupil’ separates it from meadow brown (above)

Below is a rather late, worn specimen…

…whereas an early pristine specimen (2017) is deeper in colouration:

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