Description ⁵

Aphantopus hyperantus is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of up to 35 to 42 millimeters. The wing upper and lower sides are solid brown with small, yellowish-rimmed eyespots. The newly emerged ringlet has a velvety appearance and is almost black with a white fringe to the wings. The number and size of the eyespots is variable, they may be missing on the upper wing surface. In central Europe and southern England the rare form arete occurs. The eggs are pale yellow when first laid, but become pale brown.

The caterpillars are about 25 millimeters long. They are gray or light reddish brown and have dark, reddish brown and very fine dots. Dorsally there is a dark longitudinal line, which is widened at the segment boundaries. Toward the rear, this line is more intensely colored. The head is darker and has several faint longitudinal stripes.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Rob Mills, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/skully_bob/32696058541/
2. (c) David GENOUD, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/22861288@N00/7538996038/
3. (c) Mick Talbot, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/micks-wildlife-macros/3207620166/
4. (c) Michael H. Lemmer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aphantopus-hyperantus-010706.jpg
5. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/754005

More Info

• taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Lepiforum
• NBN Atlas
• UK Moths

iNaturalist Luxembourg Map