Shouldered Brown
Common NameShouldered Brown
Scientific NamePyronia tithonus
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)38
Primary Colorsorange, dark brown, black, white
HabitatHedgerows, woodland edges, grasslands, scrubland, coastal areas
Geographic RangeWestern Europe, including the UK and Ireland, parts of Central Europe, and North Africa
Host PlantsYorkshire fog, common bent, meadow-grasses, fescues
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on grass blades. Larvae are green with darker stripes, overwinter as small caterpillars, and feed on various grasses in spring before pupating in a loose cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its orange-brown wings with broad dark brown borders and a single large black eyespot with a white pupil on each forewing. Males also possess a distinct dark scent patch on the forewings.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with orange-brown wings broadly bordered in dark brown, featuring a prominent black eyespot with a white pupil on each forewing.
