Brimstone Butterfly
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
The Brimstone has a wing shape that perfectly matches the leaves when roosting overnight, or when hibernating within foliage during the winter. This is one of the few species of UK butterflies that hibernates as an adult and spends the majority of its life as an adult.
Brimstones are commonly seen in early spring as they emerge from hibernation, and again from August as their offspring reach adulthood. These then feed avidly to build up fat reserves for the winter.
