Head to head
Ringlet vs Meadow Brown
Ringlet
VS Meadow Brown
The ringlet and meadow brown are two common brown butterflies of European grassland whose caterpillars both feed on grasses and whose adults will fly on cloudy days.
| Ringlet | Meadow Brown | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Aphantopus hyperantus | Maniola jurtina |
| Colour | Velvety dark chocolate-brown wings with a pale fringe, the males being darker than the females | Brown wings with an orange patch, larger in females |
| Eyespots | A row of small black eyespots ringed with yellow on the underside of the wings | A single black eyespot with a white centre on each forewing |
| Habitat | Damp grassland, hedgerows, and woodland rides | Grassland, meadows, and road verges |
| Winter | Caterpillars feed slowly through the winter | Caterpillars spend the winter feeding slowly on grass |
| Season | A single brood from about late June to August | One brood a year, on the wing through much of the summer |
| Range | Europe and much of temperate Asia | Europe, North Africa, and western Asia |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, with a stable population that is expanding northward in parts of Britain | Least Concern, and one of the most numerous butterflies in many areas |
Ringlet vs Meadow Brown: common questions
Why is it called the ringlet?
It is named for the row of small black eyespots ringed with yellow on the underside of its wings.
Which one flies in drizzle?
The ringlet will fly in light drizzle, and the meadow brown also flies on cloudy days when many other butterflies stay settled.
What do their caterpillars eat?
Both feed on grasses as caterpillars, so each depends on rough, ungrazed grassland and hedgerow margins surviving.