Common fivering
This satyrine butterfly is named for the black, yellow-ringed eyespots scattered along its wing edges, though the number of spots can vary between individuals of the same species.
| Where | Open grassy areas across East Asia |
|---|---|
| Size | 30 to 40 mm wingspan |
| When | April to September |
The Common fivering is a small brown butterfly marked along both wings with black, yellow-ringed eyespots, typically two large ones on the forewing and several smaller ones on the hindwing; wingspan runs about 30 to 40 mm.
The number of annual generations increases with latitude, and caterpillars feed on grasses in open grassy habitats across Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan.
Traits
Habitat
Grassland
Colour
Brown, Yellow, Black
Active
Day
To people
Harmless to people; a small grass-feeding butterfly with no defensive spines or hairs.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Usually shows only three eyespots on the hindwing underside, while the Common fivering typically shows five.
Questions
Is the Common fivering dangerous to people?
Harmless to people; a small grass-feeding butterfly with no defensive spines or hairs.
When can you see the Common fivering?
The Common fivering can be seen from April to September, by day.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Swiss Natural History Collections - SwissNatColl, CC BY 4.0, GBIF Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Brush-footed butterflies›Ypthima
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.