Gonepteryx rhamni, commonly named the common brimstone, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae. It lives throughout the Palearctic zone and is commonly found across Europe, Asia, and North Africa.[2] Across much of its range, it is the only species of its genus, and is therefore simply known locally as the brimstone. Its wing span size is 60–74 mm (2.4–2.9 in). It should not be confused with the brimstone moth Opisthograptis luteolata.
The brimstone relies on two species of buckthorn plants as host plants for its larvae; this influences its geographic range and distribution, as these plants are commonly found in wetlands.[3] The adult brimstone travels to woodland areas to spend seven months overwintering. In spring when their host plants have developed, they return to the wetlands to breed and lay eggs.[4] Both the larval and adult forms of the common brimstone have protective coloration and behaviour that decreases their chances of being recognised and subsequently preyed upon.[5]
The adult common brimstone has sexual dimorphism in its wing coloration: males have yellow wings and iridescence while females have greenish-white wings and are not iridescent.[6][7] This iridescence is affected by environmental factors.[2]
^European red list of Butterflies. Swaay, Chris van., European Commission. Directorate-General for Environment. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Blue List Programme. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. 2010. ISBN 9789279141515. OCLC 641575222.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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^Wiklund, Christer; Lindfors, Virpi; Forsberg, Johan (1996). "Early Male Emergence and Reproductive Phenology of the Adult Overwintering Butterfly Gonepteryx rhamni in Sweden". Oikos. 75 (2): 227–240. doi:10.2307/3546246. JSTOR 3546246.
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Gonepteryxrhamni, commonly named the common brimstone, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae. It lives throughout the Palearctic zone and is commonly...
brimstone Gonepteryxrhamni (Linnaeus, 1758) – common brimstone Gonepteryx taiwana (Paravicini 1913) Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gonepteryx. Gonepteryx...
family Geometridae Gonepteryx, a genus of butterflies commonly known as the brimstones Gonepteryxrhamni, a species of Gonepteryx commonly known as the...
possible source of the name is the bright yellow male of the brimstone (Gonepteryxrhamni); another is that butterflies were on the wing in meadows during the...
Systema Naturae. It should not be confused with the brimstone butterfly Gonepteryxrhamni. This species is unmistakable within its range, with bright yellow...
believed to have originated from a member of this family, the brimstone, Gonepteryxrhamni, which was called the "butter-coloured fly" by early British naturalists...
being Rhamnus cathartica) used by the common brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryxrhamni). The flowers are valuable for bees, and the fruit an important food...
in the butterflies Inachis io, Aglais urticae (Nymphalidae), and Gonepteryxrhamni (Pieridae) to floral scents." Chemoecology 13 (1): 1–11 Scherer, Christian...
fast-growing and short-lived. It is a food plant of the brimstone butterfly, Gonepteryxrhamni. The sulphur-yellow males are indicative of the presence of this species...
S2CID 6500698. Pollard, E.; Hall, M. L. (1980). "Possible movement of Gonepteryxrhamni (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) between hibernating and breeding areas"...
in Sabatinca lucilia (Micropterigidae) Heteroneurous venation in Gonepteryxrhamni (Pieridae) Reduced venation in Synanthedon tipuliformis (Sesiidae)...
plexippus on Asterales Danaus chrysippus on Celosia Aglais io on Zinnia Gonepteryxrhamni, on Tagetes Hyles lineata hovering at milkweed (Asclepias) Aglais...
"'Gynandromorphic Effect' and the Optical Nature of Hidden Wing-pattern in Gonepteryxrhamni; L. (Lepidoptera. Pieridae)". Nature. 205 (4969): 417–418. Silberglied...
Pamirs Gonepteryx farinosa from West Asia (the occurrence in North Africa is very doubtful), is conspicuously larger than specimens of G. rhamni from Central...
swallowtail Whites Colias crocea, clouded yellow Gonepteryx cleopatra, Cleopatra (common) Gonepteryxrhamni, brimstone (rare; very few good records - Brimstones...
commemorated in the subspecies of the Brimstone butterfly found in Ireland, Gonepteryxrhamni gravesi Huggins, 1956. Graves married Leila Millicent Knox Gilchrist...
and that the specimen was a common brimstone butterfly (now called Gonepteryxrhamni). Although the curator at the British Museum "indignantly stamped...
Slough Borough Council. The site has the following fauna: Wood mouse Gonepteryxrhamni Celastrina argiolus Anthocharis cardamines Pararge aegeria White-letter...
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