Male. Taken at Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon., on June 30th 2021. (© David Hastings)
(1/500th sec at f11)

Male underside. Taken at Bernwood Forest, Bucks, on July 2nd 2020. (© David Hastings)
(1/320th sec at f11)

Female. Taken at Ashdown Woods, Oxon., on July 6th 2023. (© David Hastings)
(1/640th sec at f11)

Female underside. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on July 8th 2019. (© David Hastings)
(1/125th sec at f13)

Mating pair. Taken at Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon., on June 28th 2019. (© David Hastings)
(1/160th sec at f14)

Description

Family: Satyrinae

Wing span: 40-43 mm

The Ringlet gets its name from the highly variable small eyespots on the underwings. These spots consist of a pale brown/tan outer ring black within, with a central white spot. They vary in number and size and may be enlarged, stretched or reduced to small white spots, sometimes lacking the black ring. The male is almost entirely dark brown, with a single (sometimes two) darker dot on each forewing, and two dots on each hindwing. The female has three pronounced dots on the forewing and two on the hindwing.

It occurs in England, Wales and most of Scotland (except the highlands).

Its prefered habitat is tall lush grassland which occurs in damp locations on heavy soils, especially in woodland rides. The butterfly also occurs on commons, road verges, disused railway lines and riverbanks on clay soils.

There is one brood per year, with adults being on the wing from mid-June to mid-August. The larva is the over-wintering stage.

The main larval foodplants are Cock's-foot, Common Couch, False Brome, Meadow-grasses and Tufted Hair-grass.

Adults feed on Bramble, Fleabane, Hemp Agrimony, Kidney Vetch, Marjoram, Privet, Ragwort and Thistles

Males adopt a strategy of patrolling for mates, and are often seen in ones and twos fluttering among grasses.

This species is of least concern.

Earliest UK sighting: 12th June ; Latest UK sighting: 15th September

Sightings