A Meadow Brown Butterfly, Maniola jurtina, nectaring from Lantana flowers in the grounds of Cortijo el Indiviso, near Vejer de la Frontiera, Spain.
Meadow Browns are abundant in the UK, and apparently also in Andalucía in September. In Spain,the subspecies are hispulla and jurtina.
In the UK, they have been studied by geneticists for many years due to variations in size and spotting patterns.
As their name suggests, their preferred habitat is grasslands and forest edges. Their caterpillars feed on a very wide variety of grasses, such as fescues, bents and meadow-grasses. Adults nectar from a large variety of flowers.
This photo is copyright © Liz Leyden, all rights reserved.
