Regional Species


Brimstone
Gonepteryx rhamni

Photograph by Janet Graham (Maesgwm, Coed y Brenin)

Regional Species

This species is scarce in North Wales and is only noted with any regularity in a few districts which include: the Conwy area, Loggerheads Country Park, Fenn's Moss and the Bontddu to Ganllwyd area of Merionethshire. The reason is that the larval foodplants, Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) and Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) are themselves very scarce in North Wales. Experience has shown that planting Alder Buckthorn in gardens and hedgerows can result in the appearance of this species, which is wide-ranging and quite capable of colonising new districts.

Brimstones are often noticed on sunny days very early in the spring after the adults have emerged from hibernation. There is only one brood each year with the egg, larval and pupal stages being of short duration compared to the long lifetime of the adult insect.

This butterfly could be confused with the Clouded Yellow if seen in the distance. Note also that some of the ‘whites’ can be surprisingly yellow on their undersides.