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| UK Status |
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| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
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| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
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| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
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| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
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| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
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Description
The uppersides of a freshly emerged Ringlet have a velvety appearance almost black in colour... fringed with white. Two small dark brown/black eye spots occur on the forewings with another two spots occur on the hindwings level with the tip of the abdomen although these spots can vary or be completely absent in some individuals.
It is however the highly variable small eyespots/circles on the underwings which give the Ringlet its name. These spots conisist 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.
Adult butterflies will fly even in dull weather, cloudy conditions or light rain when most other butterflies are inactive. They are commonly encountered nectaring on Bramble and Wild Privet flowers.
Habitat
Tall lush grassland which occurs in damp locations partial shade on heavy soils especially in woodland rides. The butterfly also occurs on commons, road verges, disused railway lines and riverbanks on clay soils.
Larval Food Plants
Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata) False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa), Common Couch (Elytrigia repens), and various species of Meadow Grass (Poa spp.) are used although it is thought that many other species of grass may also be used. |
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| Stock Photography Library |
| We have 17 photographs of the Ringlet in the British Butterflies photo library |
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BB1816 - Ringlet
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BB1784 - Ringlet
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BB1783 - Ringlet
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BB1747 - Ringlet
DSC_5596.JPG
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BB1673 - Ringlet
DSC_1767.JPG
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BB1672 - Ringlet
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BB1671 - Ringlet
DSC_1751.JPG
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BB1670 - Ringlet
DSC_1743.JPG
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| Distribution |
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| This widespread butterfly has extended it range in England and Scotland in recent years. It is absent on the Isle of Man and Northern Scotland. |
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| Where to see the Ringlet |
| This widespread butterfly has extended it range in England and Scotland in recent years. It is absent on the Isle of Man and Northern Scotland. |
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| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Ringlet is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  up by 33% |
(1976-2004) up by 373% |
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1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
not listed (link) |
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| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 least concern4 |
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3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Ringlet can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
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Aberrations and Forms |
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| We currently know of 11 named aberrant forms of the Ringlet. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. arete - Müller (1764) |
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| ab. brunnea - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. cabeaui - Pionneau (1929) |
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| ab. chrysophalarus - Collier (1967) |
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| ab. crassipuncta - Burkhardt (1948) |
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| ab. infra-pallida - Lempke (1935) |
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| ab. lanceolata - Shipp (1894) |
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| ab. marpurgensis - Strand (1919) |
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| ab. obsoleta - Tutt (1896) |
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| ab. pallens - Schultz (1908) |
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| ab. pseudoocellatus - Bergman (1952) |
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| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
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42-52mm
