What is Meadow brown?
{{Speciesbox | image = Meadow brown butterfly (Maniola jurtina) female.jpg | image_caption = | image2 = 2015.07.11.-05-Mulde Eilenburg--Grosses Ochsenauge-Weibchen.jpg | image2_caption = Both females | taxon = Maniola jurtina | authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[Lepidoptera in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]) }} The '''meadow brown''', '''''Maniola jurtina''''', is a butterfly found in European [[meadow]]s. Its [[larva]]e feed on [[grass]]es. [[File:South1906Plate84.jpg|thumb|Figures 1–4 male and 5–7 female]] There is some [[sexual dimorphism]] in this [[species]]. Males are less colourful, with smaller [[eyespot (mimicry)|eyespot]]s and much reduced orange areas on the upper forewings. They are also much more active and range far about. Females fly less and often may not away from the area where they grew up. The [[evolution]]ary significance of the upperwing eyespots is probably ''[[defence against predators]]''. Small, peripheral eyespots deflect the attacks of [[birds]] to non-vital parts of the body.<ref name=Stevens>Stevens, Martin 2005. The role of eyespots as anti-predator mechanisms, principally demonstrated in the Lepidoptera. ''Biological Reviews'' '''80'''(4): 573–588 [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=344947]</ref> They can fly perfectly well when their wings have one or two beak-shaped clips on them. == Food plants == *Sheep's fescue ''[[Festuca ovina]]'' *Rough meadow grass ''[[Poa trivialis]]'' *Smooth meadow grass ''[[Poa pratensis]]'' == References == {{Reflist}} [[Category:Nymphalidae]]