Description

found on mountain grassland in the scottish highlands and the english lake district. a dark brown butterfly with a row of black-centred orange eyespots on wings. similar to scotch argus, which has white dots in the eyespots. very hard to find due to the remoteness of many colonies and the vagaries of the weather in the mountains of northern britain. the mountain ringlet is our only true montane species and is found on mountains above 350m amidst the spectacular scenery of the scottish highlands and the english lake district. the adults are highly active only in bright sunshine but can be disturbed from the ground even in quite dull weather. they keep low to the ground in short flights, pausing regularly to bask amongst grass tussocks or feed on the flowers of tormentil or heath bedstraw. the butterfly's status is difficult to assess due to the remoteness and unpredictable weather of its mountain habitats, but its range appears stable.

Habitat

Size and Family

Countries

Countries: England and Scotland

Wing span range

0mm

Mountain Ringlet (male/upperwing)
Mountain Ringlet (male/upperwing)
Mountain Ringlet (male/upperwing)
Mountain Ringlet (male/upperwing)
Mountain Ringlet (male/upperwing)
Mountain Ringlet (male/upperwing)
Mountain Ringlet (male/upperwing)
Mountain Ringlet (male/upperwing)
Mountain Ringlet (male/upperwing)
Mountain Ringlet (male/upperwing)
Mountain Ringlet (male/upperwing)
Mountain Ringlet (male/upperwing)