Common five-ring
This butterfly is named for the five small eyespots that usually appear on its hindwing underside, one more than its closest relative, the Common fourring.
| Where | Grassy patches in open forest and scrub |
|---|---|
| Size | 30 to 46 mm wingspan |
| When | January to December |
The Common five-ring is a brown butterfly marked with small black eyespots ringed in yellow, one large spot near the forewing tip and a group of smaller spots on the hindwing, the pattern slightly paler and more defined in females.
Caterpillars feed on grasses, and adults fly with a weak, fluttering action low over grassy patches in both open country and forest clearings across their range.
Traits
Habitat
Grassland
Colour
Brown, Yellow
Active
Day
To people
Flies with a weak, erratic flutter close to the ground; harmless to people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Shows one fewer eyespot overall, typically with only two or three small hindwing ocelli compared to the Common five-ring's larger set of spots.
Questions
Is the Common five-ring dangerous to people?
Flies with a weak, erratic flutter close to the ground; harmless to people.
When can you see the Common five-ring?
The Common five-ring can be seen from January to December, 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.