---
title: "Gatekeeper"
description: "Pyronia tithonus — Insetti e ragni. The gatekeeper or hedge brown (Pyronia tithonus) is a species of butterfly found across Europe."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/it/animal/gatekeeper
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Gatekeeper

> Pyronia tithonus — Insetti e ragni. The gatekeeper or hedge brown (Pyronia tithonus) is a species of butterfly found across Europe.

- Scientific name: *Pyronia tithonus*
- Category: `insects` (Insetti e ragni)
- Habitats: `grassland` (Prati e campi)
- iNaturalist observations: 44694
- Wikidata: [Q1668437](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1668437)
- iNaturalist taxon: [62429](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62429)

## Names

- en: Gatekeeper
- de: Rotbraunes Ochsenauge
- es: Lobito agreste
- fr: Amaryllis
- nl: Oranje zandoogje
- pl: Przestrojnik titonus

## Countries with the most observations

GB (24764), FR (6957), ES (3655), DE (1250), IT (1138), PT (1012), BE (923), LU (917), NL (677), GR (263), BG (179), JE (116)

## Summary

The gatekeeper or hedge brown (Pyronia tithonus) is a species of butterfly found across Europe. Given its preference for warmer weather, the restriction of range expansion can be assumed to be due to climate. Colonies vary in size depending on the available habitat, and can range from a few dozen to several thousand butterflies. Named for its rigorous patrol of hedges and woodland rides, the gatekeeper butterfly is a prime pollinator. The caterpillars primarily feed on fine grasses such as fescues (Festuca) and bents (Agrostis), which are common in meadows and roadside verges.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatekeeper_(butterfly)

## Photo

![Gatekeeper](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/gatekeeper/medium.jpg)

Photo: Charlie Farrell · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/90470715

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/gatekeeper?lang=it` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).