Here’s a full overview of the Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus), a widespread and easily recognized European butterfly:

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)

Taxonomy & Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
• Subfamily: Satyrinae (Browns)
• Genus: Aphantopus
• Species: A. hyperantus
• Common names: Ringlet

General Description

• Wingspan: 42–48 mm.
• Coloration:
  • Upperside: Dark chocolate brown, appearing almost black in fresh individuals.
  • Underside: Lighter brown with several distinctive eye-spots (ocelli) surrounded by pale rings, giving the species its name “Ringlet.”
• Sexual dimorphism: Males and females look similar, though females are often slightly larger and paler.
• Flight: Weak, fluttering, often close to the ground.

Behavior & Lifestyle

• Flight period: June to August (depending on latitude).
• Activity: Flies even in dull, overcast, or damp conditions when many butterflies rest.
• Resting: Often perches with wings closed, showing its ringed underside.
• Feeding: Adults take nectar from wildflowers such as bramble, thistle, meadowsweet, and knapweed.

Life Cycle

• Eggs: Laid singly on grasses in mid to late summer.
• Larvae (caterpillars): Feed on coarse grasses such as cock’s-foot (Dactylis), false brome (Brachypodium), meadow-grasses (Poa), and fescues (Festuca).
• Overwintering: Caterpillars hibernate in the base of grass tussocks.
• Pupation: Occurs in loose soil or at the base of vegetation in spring.
• Adult emergence: Early summer.

Habitat

• Prefers damp, shady, and grassy habitats, including:
  • Woodland rides and clearings
  • Meadow edges
  • Hedgerows
  • Marshy pastures
• Avoids dry, exposed grasslands.

Geographic Range

• Widespread in Europe, from Iberia and the British Isles across to Siberia.
• Absent from the far south of Spain, most Mediterranean islands, and northern Scandinavia.

Ecological Role

• Pollinator: Feeds on wildflowers and helps with cross-pollination.
• Food source: Caterpillars are eaten by birds, spiders, and predatory insects.
• Indicator species: Presence reflects healthy semi-natural grasslands and woodland edge habitats.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
• Population trends: Stable and common across most of its range.
• Threats:
  • Agricultural intensification reducing flower-rich meadows.
  • Loss of hedgerows and woodland rides.
• Conservation needs: Maintenance of damp meadows, woodland glades, and diverse grasslands.

Interesting Facts

• One of the few butterflies that thrives in cloudy weather, giving it a survival advantage in northern climates.
• Eye-spots on the underside help deter predators by startling or misdirecting attacks.
• Populations may vary in number and size of eye-spots depending on region and local conditions.

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