Dusky Meadow Brown
Common NameDusky Meadow Brown
Scientific NameHyponephele lycaon
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Primary Colorsorange, brown, black
HabitatDry grasslands, steppe, open woodlands, rocky slopes
Geographic RangeCentral and Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, Central Asia, Siberia
Host PlantsPoa, Festuca, Bromus, Agropyron
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on grass blades. Larvae feed on various grasses and overwinter as caterpillars before pupating near the ground.
Identification TipsLook for the distinct orange patch and single black eyespot on the forewing underside, combined with the uniformly mottled brown hindwing underside. Often found in drier, stonier habitats than similar 'brown' species.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with a mottled brown underside on the hindwings and a prominent orange patch with a single black eyespot on the forewing underside.
