A-Z of butterflies

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Brimstone - Photograph by Jim AsherNBN Map - Brimstone Map courtesy of National Biodiversity Network (NBN)View full NBN Gateway profile

Brimstone

A medium-large butterfly of England, Wales and Ireland. Leaf-shaped wings. Always rest with wings closed. Males have yellow-green underwings and yellow upperwings. Females have pale yellow-green wings, looking almost white in flight.

Resident

Range expanding.Female Brimstone by Jim Asher

The Brimstone has spread in recent years, mainly in northern England. When this butterflies roost among foliage, the angular shape and the strong veining of their wings closely resemble leaves.There is a view that the word 'butterfly' originates from the yellow colour of male Brimstones.

The wings of the female are very pale green, almost white, as shown below.

Conservation status

  • UK Biodiversity Action Plan: not listed
  • Butterfly Conservation priority: low
  • European threat status: not threatened
  • Protected in Northern Ireland

European/world range

Widespread through Europe as far as Scandinavia, extending to Mongolia and North Africa. The European range is stable.

Foodplants

The larvae feed on leaves of Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), which occurs mainly on calcareous soils, and Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus), which is found on moist acid soils and wetlands.

Habitat

The Brimstone occurs in scrubby grassland, woodland (especially damp carr woodland, hedgerows, and open ground wherever foodplants are available in sunny positions. The butterfly ranges widely and can often be seen flying along roadside verges and tracks with hedgerows, well away from foodplants.