Brimstone

Scientific Name - Gonepteryx rhamni

Flight Period - Late summer through to the following spring, can also be seen in winter if disturbed

Overwinters as - Adult

Habitat - Gardens, parks, grasslands, woodlands etc.

Larval foodplants - Buckthorns

Conservation status - Low priority

Northamptonshire distribution - Widespread

Best public sites to see them - Anywhere with suitable habitat

The Brimstone is a common butterfly which can be seen anywhere in the county. This butterfly has a single brood and overwinters as an adult using its cryptic wing shape as camouflage against predators. In the late winter or early spring, the first of the year’s sunshine can wake them in good numbers and the deep green males provide an extremely welcome sight after the cold winter months as they patrol the hedgerows looking for females. The Brimstone is one of the butterflies that never rests with its wings open so they can often be seen tilting their bodies towards the sun to maximise capturing the sun’s warmth. Other winged insects can have a curious habit of using the Brimstones wings to bask on themselves, so it’s not unusual to see a Brimstone with a fly resting on it. Once mated they lay their eggs on Buckthorns and these can be very easy to find. Once the early life cycle is completed adult Brimstones will emerge in mid-summer, these will avidly feed on nectar in order to get enough energy to survive the following winter.

Brimstone Distribution 2018 - 2022

Brimstone

The camouflage of the Brimstone is quite amazing!

Brimstone egg

Brimstone larva

It’s quite common to see other insects using the Brimstone’s wings to catch a bit if the sun’s warmth too!

Like many butterflies that rest with their wings closed the Brimstone will angle its body to the sun