Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)

Family: Pieridae Checklist: 58.013

 
Description
Wing span: 60-74 mm. One of the first butterflies to be seen in the spring, the Brimstone is also one of the longest-lived in its adult form, with some individuals living for 10 or 11 months. The male is butter-yellow, whereas the female is more greenish-yellow. It always rests with its wings closed. It can be found anywhere that the larval food plants grow, which is usually damp woodland.
 
Images (click to enlarge)
Brimstone ♂ underside © David Hastings
Brimstone ♀ underside © David Hastings
Male underside Female underside
 
Life Cycle
Hibernating adults generally emerge in March and are on the wing until mid-June. These give rise to a second generation, which flies from late July to October or November, before entering hibernation.
 
Larval Foodplants
The primary larval foodplants are Purging Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus).
 
Nectar Sources
Favourite nectar sources are Thistles, Knapweeds, Scabious and Teasels.
 
UK Conservation Status
Least Concern
 
Earliest UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 1st January
Mean UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 24th January
 
 
Distribution and Sites
 

Key
1 sighting 2-9 max seen 10+ max seen
This species is a habitat generalist, so can be found almost anywhere in the UTB region.
 
Related Species
All Species