Ringlet butterfly
Aphantopus hyperantus
family - Satyridae (Browns)
The Ringlet butterfly is brown/dark chocolate brown in colour. There are 5 rings on the underside of the hindwing.
My personal observations of the Ringlet butterfly
months seen in my garden: July
garden plants that attract this species: none
Butterfly sightings 2005:
Ringlet, 26 June
Ringlet, 16 July
Ringlet on Ragwort
in Overley Wood, 31 July (wings open)
Ringlet on Ragwort
in Overley Wood, 31 July (side view)
Ringlet on Agrimony
in Overley Wood, 31 July (wings open)
Butterfly sightings 2004:
Ringlet on Knapweed, 1 July
Ringlet on Knapweed, 1 July
Mating pair of Ringlet butterflies,
1 July
Two Ringlet butterflies on Bramble,
1 July
A memorable digital image from 2003:
Female Ringlet. 27 July
Slides from 2003:
On Nettle. Hetty Pegler's Tump, Uley, Gloucestershire. July
12.
Sapperton Valley, Gloucestershire. June
21.
Past Images:
On Clover along the farm track behind my house. 6
July 2002.
On Ragwort. In my Wiltshire garden. 18
July 1999.
observations:
Ringlet butterfly visits to the garden are rare. No cultivated flowering plant appeals to their taste.
Reference Section
Size: 48mm slightly smaller than the Small White - see list of butterflies by size)
First Generation flight period: June-August
Identified by the 5 spots on the underside of the hindwing.
Habitat: Hedgerows, woodland edge
Larval Food Plants: Grasses
Wild Nectar Plants: Ragwort, Clover, Yarrow
Family Group: Satyridae - see list of butterflies by family