Here’s a complete natural history overview of the Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus), a widespread and familiar butterfly in Europe and parts of Asia:

**Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)**

Taxonomy & Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Satyrinae (browns)
Genus: Aphantopus
Species: A. hyperantus

General Description

The ringlet is a medium-sized butterfly named after the distinctive eye-spots (“rings”) on its wings.

Wingspan: 34–42 mm.
Upperside: Dark chocolate-brown to blackish with several pale-rimmed black eyespots (ocelli) near the margins, usually more prominent on hindwings.
Underside: Lighter brown with more pronounced eye-spots circled in yellow, making the “ringlet” pattern very clear.
Body: Dark, with fine hairs giving a velvety appearance.
Sexual Dimorphism: Both sexes look similar, though males are often slightly darker.

Behavior & Lifestyle

Flight Period: Typically June to August (varies slightly with latitude and altitude).
Activity:
- Flies in dull, cloudy, or even rainy conditions when many other butterflies remain inactive.
- Flight is slow, fluttering, and low to the ground.
Feeding:
- Adults feed mainly on nectar from flowers like bramble (Rubus), thistles (Cirsium), and knapweed (Centaurea).
Reproduction:
- Eggs are laid singly on grasses.
- Caterpillars hatch in late summer, feed briefly, then overwinter as small larvae.
- Pupation occurs in the grass litter near the ground the following spring.

Larval Stage

Caterpillar: Green with faint stripes, resembling a grass blade for camouflage.
Food Plants: Wide variety of grasses, including:
- Festuca (fescues)
- Poa (meadow-grasses)
- Holcus (soft-grasses)
- Dactylis (cock’s-foot)

Habitat

Prefers damp, grassy habitats such as:
- Woodland rides and clearings
- Marshy meadows
- Hedgerows
- Roadside verges
Tolerant of some shade, unlike many other butterflies.

Geographic Range

Europe: Widespread from Iberia (though absent in much of Spain) through central and northern Europe to Scandinavia.
Asia: Found eastward through temperate Russia, Siberia, and parts of Central Asia.
Absent From: Southernmost Mediterranean regions (Greece, most of Italy, southern Spain).

Ecological Role

Pollination: Visits many nectar-rich wildflowers.
Prey: Adults and caterpillars are eaten by birds, small mammals, and predatory insects.
Host Plants: Plays a role in grassland ecosystems as a grazer of grasses in its larval stage.

Special Adaptations

Eye-spots: Likely function as predator deterrents, either startling attackers or deflecting strikes toward wing edges instead of the body.
Cloud-Tolerant Flight: Unusual ability to fly in overcast and drizzly conditions allows exploitation of times when competitors are inactive.
Larval Camouflage: Green caterpillars blend into grass blades, avoiding detection.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List: Not globally threatened; categorized as Least Concern.
Population Trend: Stable and often abundant locally.
Threats:
- Loss of traditional hay meadows.
- Intensive agriculture reducing nectar sources.
Conservation Needs: Maintenance of semi-natural grasslands, hedgerows, and woodland edge habitats.

Interesting Facts

The ringlet is one of the few butterflies active in poor weather, often seen flying on rainy summer days.
Numbers can be so high in suitable habitats that they form clouds of butterflies along woodland paths.
Its velvet-brown wings with rows of “rings” make it easily recognizable among the Satyrinae.