Maniola jurtina

(Linnaeus, 1758)

  • Subfamily: Satyrinae - Maniolini
  • Wingspan: 35-55 mm
  • Flight period: May - Aug
  • Spread: Common
  • Host plants: Poaceae

Information

The Maniola jurtina also called Meadow Brown is a common and widespread butterfly, of medium size, with a wingspan of 35 - 55 mm. Common butterfly throughout Europe, present everywhere in Italy (subsp. Hispulla), from the plain to 1500 m. *

The Maniola jurtina is characterized by the dark brown livery and with on the front wings a single ocello with pupil, also present on the lower page where it stands out against the ocher background color.
In the male the androconial areas are dark and whole. The hind wings have, below, a more uniform yellow-gray color in the male. In the female, there is a light (yellowish brown) postdiscal band, which extends to the cell, containing a series of dark dots. **

Univoltina the flickers occur over a very wide period, between mid-May and the end of August and depend on the trend of the season and the altitude. It has a lively but heavy flight with frequent stops on flowers of various species, preferring the scabiose, the bramble and the pratense sage. sheep common in the territory, where it frequents sunny environments and cultivated fields.

The wintering larva resumes its activity in spring, completing its metamorphosis immediately afterwards. The caterpillar is green-yellowish dorsally, darker ventrally, with the sides crossed by a whitish line under the stigmas. With a bluish-green head, conducts nocturnal activity .

There are several host plants of the Poaceae family, such as Bromus sp., Festuca sp., Milium effusum, Poa sp., Poa pratensis.


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Bestimmungshilfe für die in Europa nachgewiesenen Schmetterlingsarten - http://lepiforum.de/

Maniola jurtina
Maniola jurtina
Maniola jurtina
Maniola jurtina
Maniola jurtina
Maniola jurtina
Maniola jurtina
Maniola jurtina
Maniola jurtina
Maniola jurtina