Ringlet vs Gatekeeper

These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a ringlet from a gatekeeper, and whether either one bites or stings.

≠The key differences

Ringlet is dark chocolate brown overall with rows of ringed eyespots on the undersides and no orange; the Gatekeeper is bright orange and brown.

	Ringlet	Gatekeeper
To humans	Non-toxic	Non-toxic
Size	Wingspan 38-46 mm	About 3.7-4.8 cm wingspan
Colours	Dark brown, Medium brown, Pale cream (eye-spot rings), Black (eye-spots), Reddish-brown (underside)	Orange-brown, Dark brown, Cream (underside markings), Black (eyespots)
Family	Nymphalidae	Nymphalidae
Habitat	Damp meadows, grassy rides and clearings in woodland, hedgerows and well-vegetated roadside verges	Warm, sheltered grassy habitats: hedgerows, field margins, woodland clearings, rides and sunlit meadows
Range	Widespread across much of Europe and into temperate parts of Asia	Widespread across much of Europe (including southern Britain and Ireland), extending to Anatolia and the Caucasus
Active	Mainly June to August (peaks in July); flies by day, often in dull weather and late afternoon	Mainly July-August, from late June in warmer areas; one brood per year
Pest?	No	No

Uniform dark brown upper wings with velvety appearance (no bold bands or bright markings).
Multiple black eye-spots with pale rings on the underside of wings, commonly 4-6 on the hindwing.
Slow, low flight among tall grasses and along woodland edges.
Lack of the central pale band that distinguishes Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

Look for orange wings with broad brown borders and a black forewing eyespot that usually has two white pupils
Underside of the hindwing brownish with small white dots
Males show a broad dark scent brand across the middle of the forewing
Habitat: sitting near hedgerows and grassy edges, often perched on grass stalks or fluttering low

Ringlet is dark chocolate brown overall with rows of ringed eyespots on the undersides and no orange; the Gatekeeper is bright orange and brown.

Ringlet: Non-toxic. Gatekeeper: Non-toxic. Ringlets do not bite or sting and are harmless to people. Harmless to people.

Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.