Gonepteryx rhamni
Scientific NameGonepteryx rhamni
FamilyPieridae
Wingspan (mm)50-60
HabitatTypically found in woodlands, hedgerows, gardens, scrubland, and open country, particularly in areas where its larval foodplants, Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn, are abundant.
Conservation StatusLeast Concern (LC)
Description
The Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) is a distinctive medium-sized butterfly, renowned for its leaf-shaped wings which provide excellent camouflage. Males are a vibrant lemon-yellow, while females are a paler, often greenish-white. Both sexes feature a small, diagnostic orange spot in the center of each wing. It is one of the longest-lived butterflies in Europe, frequently overwintering as an adult. Its flight is strong and erratic.
