Both English names of the butterfly
Pyronia tithonus indicate something of the species' habitat. Gatekeeper alludes to it commonly being found on flowers growing in gateways, whilst Hedge Brown describes how it likes hedgerows and field edges. The species' food plants include wild marjoram, common fleabane, ragworts, and bramble. This particular example - and others nearby - favoured bracken, but this was probably only used as a place on which to sun themselves. Gatekeepers exhibit some variation in their markings. The butterfly in the photograph has four small brown "eyes" as well as the big dark eyes with double white spots.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10
