Gatekeeper

Pyronia Tithonus

Family Nymphalidae

• Colouring – Light brown wings, grey coloured wing edges, two small black spots with white dots on the wings.
• Life span – June to September.
• Native – British butterfly.
• Caterpillar colour – Light grey.
• Eggs to caterpillar – First eggs to pupate 4 weeks.
• Food for the caterpillar – Bent, common crouch, young leaves, fescues.
• Food for the butterfly – Shrubs, grasses, hedgerows.

Special features

Widespread in the South, and during the past years has begun to travel towards the North, and making new homes for Gatekeepers. Gatekeepers normally live in colonies. The Gatekeeper will fly up and back again along the hedgerows and edges of the heathlands as if he is on patrol duty, we believe that this is the reason that the are called ‘Gatekeepers’.