The Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) is a butterfly of the Pieridae family. In much of its range, it is the only species of its genus, and this conspicuous butterfly is therefore simply known as "the brimstone" locally.
Found in Europe, Asia, and even north Africa, it is one of the longest lived butterflies, living up to thirteen months, although most of this time is spent in hibernation.
On the upper side the male is sulphur yellow and the female white with a greenish tinge but both have an orange spot in the center of each wing. They never settle with their wings open and from the underside the sexes are more difficult to separate but the female is still paler.
Their wing shape is unique among British butterflies (although there are similar, closely related species in southern and eastern Europe) and is designed to act as camouflage while they rest and during hibernation. Widely distributed across the southern half of the UK, it has been steadily increasing its range in the north of England but is limited by the distribution of its larval foodplants and is quite possibly close to its maximum possible distribution now unless their foodplants' range also increases. In Ireland it has a much more localised distribution.
It is widespread across Europe, North Africa and eastwards to Mongolia Often the first butterfly to be seen in the spring, sometimes as early as January when hibernating adults are awoken on a sunny day, there is a popular myth that it is this butterfly which gave us the word BUTTERFLY, a corruption of butter-coloured fly. They are very camoflaged and they look like leaves.
On the upper side the male is sulphur yellow and the female white with a greenish tinge but both have an orange spot in the center of each wing. They never settle with their wings open and from the underside the sexes are more difficult to separate but the female is still paler.
Their wing shape is unique among British butterflies (although there are similar, closely related species in southern and eastern Europe) and is designed to act as camouflage while they rest and during hibernation. Widely distributed across the southern half of the UK, it has been steadily increasing its range in the north of England but is limited by the distribution of its larval foodplants and is quite possibly close to its maximum possible distribution now unless their foodplants' range also increases. In Ireland it has a much more localised distribution.
It is widespread across Europe, North Africa and eastwards to Mongolia Often the first butterfly to be seen in the spring, sometimes as early as January when hibernating adults are awoken on a sunny day, there is a popular myth that it is this butterfly which gave us the word BUTTERFLY, a corruption of butter-coloured fly. They are very camoflaged and they look like leaves.
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