Brimstone
The Brimstone butterfly is pretty generally distributed in southern Britain, becoming rarer to the north. Its distribution pretty much matches that of its larval foodplants; Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn. It emerges in July then overwinters as an adult butterfly, apparently among ivy leaves, which it certainly resembles, though I have never found one hibernating. It then emerges on the first warm days of spring, and is usually the first butterfly to emerge. Its scientific name is Gonepteryx rhamni. Gonepteryx means angled wing, and Rhamnus is the scientific name for its larval foodplant Buckthorn.
Brimstone has been used as the name for this butterfly since it started appearing in books in the 17th century. The name is also an old-fashioned name for Sulphur (or Sulfur). Both the element Sulphur and the male butterfly are a similar yellow colour. Sulphur is associated with the acrid odour of volcanic activity (the word Brimstone comes from burnt stone) and is frequently used in the Bible to evoke either hell or God's wrath for the unfaithful.
Brimstones and Buckthorns are uncommon where I live in the Pennines of West Yorkshire. I usually see two or three a year but rarely get an opportunity to photograph them. I photographed this female nectaring on Knapweed during my recent visit to Lincolnshire for Brown Hairstreaks.
Brimstone
The Brimstone butterfly is pretty generally distributed in southern Britain, becoming rarer to the north. Its distribution pretty much matches that of its larval foodplants; Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn. It emerges in July then overwinters as an adult butterfly, apparently among ivy leaves, which it certainly resembles, though I have never found one hibernating. It then emerges on the first warm days of spring, and is usually the first butterfly to emerge. Its scientific name is Gonepteryx rhamni. Gonepteryx means angled wing, and Rhamnus is the scientific name for its larval foodplant Buckthorn.
Brimstone has been used as the name for this butterfly since it started appearing in books in the 17th century. The name is also an old-fashioned name for Sulphur (or Sulfur). Both the element Sulphur and the male butterfly are a similar yellow colour. Sulphur is associated with the acrid odour of volcanic activity (the word Brimstone comes from burnt stone) and is frequently used in the Bible to evoke either hell or God's wrath for the unfaithful.
Brimstones and Buckthorns are uncommon where I live in the Pennines of West Yorkshire. I usually see two or three a year but rarely get an opportunity to photograph them. I photographed this female nectaring on Knapweed during my recent visit to Lincolnshire for Brown Hairstreaks.