Meadow brown or gatekeeper

[sleepinabox]

This is a battered specimen but is it (she?) a meadow brown or a gatekeeper plaese anyone?

[Tiggrx]

Gatekeeper - note the two white spots in the spot on the forewing. Meadow Brown only has one white spot and is overall less brightly coloured.

[sleepinabox]

Thanks Tiggrx - thought it should be but the colouring looked more like the meadow brown in my butterfly book (Lewington) - especially underside of the wings.

[wyevilla]

Hi sleepinabox

Double eye-spot is the key feature. Therefore Gatekeeper. The dark smudge across the open forewings indicate a male.

[glsammy]

You can get two spot Meadow Browns, not common but they do occur. We've got a few examples here on WAB, here's one:

[goosey]

Originally Posted by glsammy

You can get two spot Meadow Browns, not common but they do occur. We've got a few examples here on WAB, here

That is rather frustrating, when I have everything straight in my head, along comes another exception!

[wyevilla]

Originally Posted by glsammy

You can get two spot Meadow Browns, not common but they do occur.

Thanks Graham - I really had no idea. This just goes to show that there is always something to learn from this hobby.