Aphantopus hyperantus
Ringlet is a quintessential butterfly of the woodland ride and glade where it can find cool, moist, still conditions, which it clearly prefers. It can be found in more open habitat but only where there are bushes or hedgerows to shelter it from the full glare of the sun. Self-contained colonies vary from just a handful to many hundreds, or even thousands, along a few favoured woodland rides.
In flight, it could easily be mistaken for a male Meadow Brown. However, the wings of a Ringlet are a darker brown and unlike a male Meadow Brown, there is never a hint of orange in the wings. Fresh Ringlets have a very distinctive thin white border, but this does fade with age. Once perched, the eye-spots or “ringlets” on the undersides show well and are unmistakable.
Early adults emerge from mid-June, and numbers peak in early July. By mid-August only a few remain, although there are always a few stragglers that linger on until the end of August or even early September.
This species is very widely-distributed throughout Sussex and may be found in woodland rides, along hedgerows, and clumps of bushes; anywhere that offers shelter, and shade from full sunshine. Where Speckled Woods are found, we can also find Ringlets, as they share the same requirements of dappled sunshine, shelter and shade.
Ringlet resting on Bracken – photo by Douglas Neve
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Nectaring on Knapweed – photo by Martin Kalaher
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In sunshine and shade – photo by MEK
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Upperside with few rings – photo by MEK
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Upperside with lots of rings – photo by MEK
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A dark individual – photo by MEK
Butterfly Conservation Ringlet
