Brown Hairstreak vs Bright-eyed Ringlet

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Brown Hairstreak Bright-eyed Ringlet
Scientific Name Thecla betulae Erebia oeme
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Lycaenidae Nymphalidae
Size 36-40 mm wingspan 32-38 mm wingspan
Habitat Hedgerows Mountains
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, temperate Asia Alps, Carpathians, Balkans
Conservation Least Concern (declining in parts of range) Least Concern

Brown Hairstreak

A secretive butterfly with rich brown wings and an orange flash on the female's forewings. Adults spend most of their time in tree canopies, rarely descending to ground level.

💡

Did You Know?

Eggs are laid singly on blackthorn and are easier to find in winter than the elusive adults are in summer.

Bright-eyed Ringlet

A dark brown ringlet with prominent white-pupiled eyespots. It frequents damp, grassy slopes in subalpine and alpine zones.

💡

Did You Know?

Its bright eyespots likely serve to startle predatory birds.