Meadow brown
Maniola jurtina
Butterfly
The meadow brown (Maniola jurtina) is one of the most abundant grassland butterflies in Europe, ranging from Europe south of 62°N through North Africa, Asia Minor, Iraq, and east to Iran. Males are dusky brown with a small apical eyespot on the forewing; females are more colourful, with an extended tawny orange patch surrounding a larger eyespot. Adults nectar on knapweeds (Centaurea), thistles (Cirsium), scabious (Scabiosa, Succisa), and brambles (Rubus), while larvae feed nocturnally on a range of fine-leaved grasses including fescues (Festuca), meadow-grasses (Poa), and cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata). Gardens and churchyards with rough, uncut grass and open wildflower areas support both life stages.
Plants in the catalog
Nectar plants · 2
Wikipedia lists Centaurea (knapweeds) among the meadow brown's documented adult nectar genera; cornflower is a same-genus catalog species.
Field scabious shares the meadow brown's grassland habitat; a plausible nectar visit (the article names the related Scabiosa and Succisa, not Knautia).
Range
Palearctic: Europe south of approximately 62°N, Russia east to the Urals, Asia Minor, Iraq, Iran, North Africa, and the Canary Islands. Common and widespread throughout temperate Europe.
Sources & citations
Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife page. The source cards below show the upstream references behind the taxonomy, range, conservation, host, forage, and habitat claims.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina). Retrieved 2026, June 30, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/meadow-brown
Sources for wildlife facts
5 cited fact fields are backed by the source cards below.
Meadow brown — Wikipedia
Identification, the Palaearctic range, the grass larval hosts, and adult nectaring on knapweeds, thistles, and scabious.
Backs 5 fields
Taxonomy
Range
Lifecycle
Host plants
Foraging