Brimstone
Gonepteryx rhamni
This record describes Gonepteryx rhamni (species). Recorded family: Pieridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
It is commonly believed that the word 'butterfly' is a derived from 'butter-coloured fly' which is attributed to the yellow of the male Brimstone butterfly, the female being a much paler whitish-green. The Brimstone has a most exquisite wing shape, perfectly matching a leaf when roosting overnight or hibernating within foliage. The Brimstone is a great wanderer and can be found in almost any habitat, from chalk downland to woodland rides to gardens. All year round but peaking in April and May and in early August This is one of the few species that hibernates as an adult and, as such, spends the majority of its life as an adult butterfly. This single-brooded butterfly can be found in most months of the year, although peak flight times are in April and May as the hibernating adults emerge, and again in August when their offspring reach adulthood. Autumn is a good time to see this species as the adults are avid nectar-feeders as they build up their fat reserves in preparation for hibernation. The distribution of this species closely follows that of the larval food plants Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn. For this reason the species is rarely seen in parts of Wales, northern England and Scotland.
Wikipedia reference for Gonepteryx rhamni: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonepteryx rhamni.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Pieridae (Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs)
- Subfamily
- Coliadinae
- Tribe
- Coliadini
- Genus
- Gonepteryx (Brimstones)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
The Brimstone is a great wanderer and can be found in almost any habitat, from chalk downland to woodland rides to gardens.
Seasonal Activity
All year round but peaking in April and May and in early August
Diet and Behavior
Life History
This is one of the few species that hibernates as an adult and, as such, spends the majority of its life as an adult butterfly. This single-brooded butterfly can be found in most months of the year, although peak flight times are in April and May as the hibernating adults emerge, and again in August when their offspring reach adulthood. Autumn is a good time to see this species as the adults are avid nectar-feeders as they build up their fat reserves in preparation for hibernation.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The distribution of this species closely follows that of the larval food plants Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn. For this reason the species is rarely seen in parts of Wales, northern England and Scotland.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Gonepteryx rhamni. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Brimstone (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Brimstone
What is Brimstone?
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) is a species in the family Pieridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Brimstone found?
Habitat: The Brimstone is a great wanderer and can be found in almost any habitat, from chalk downland to woodland rides to gardens.
When is Brimstone active?
Brimstone: seasonal activity - All year round but peaking in April and May and in early August.
What is the life cycle of a Brimstone?
This is one of the few species that hibernates as an adult and, as such, spends the majority of its life as an adult butterfly. This single-brooded butterfly can be found in most months of the year, although peak flight times are in April and May as the hibernating adults emerge, and again in August when their offspring reach adulthood. Autumn is a good time to see this species as the adults are avid nectar-feeders as they build up their fat reserves in preparation for hibernation.