Species Focus - Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) and Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) Butterflies

Brimstone

With fine, sunny spring weather we’re starting to see hibernating butterflies emerge from their hiding places. Perhaps one of the most iconic spring butterflies is the Brimstone. This is often one of the first species on the wing, and the butter-yellow colour of the adult male is very distinctive. Female Brimstones aren’t yellow, but instead a subtle pale jade-green. Despite their distinctive colours they can do a very good impression of a yellowing, dead leaf if they land, so are easier to spot when flying.

Brimstones can be found where their larval food plants grow. It might be worth looking for them in areas where Common and Alder Buckthorn grow.

Orange-tip

Towards the end of the month, you might also see an Orange-tip Butterfly, which will have recently emerged from a chrysalis. The males are unmistakable, with distinctive bright orange wing tips. However, females lack these orange markings. Both sexes have a mottled green/white underside to the hindwing, and this is best seen when they land. Fortunately, this mottled hindwing helps to distinguish females from other white butterfly species.

Please submit your records of these two butterflies to the Cofnod ORS or the LERC Wales App.