Brimstone Butterfly

Gonepteryx rhamni

The bright yellow males are unmistakable as they flutter around gardens in March and April, having just emerged from their winter hideaway. These hardy butterflies can live for up to 13 months, making them one of our longest-lived species. Watch for them visiting early flowers like primroses and daffodils, where their long proboscis allows them to reach nectar other insects can’t access. The pale, almost white females are much more subtle and often mistaken for cabbage whites. Their caterpillars feed exclusively on buckthorn, making this native shrub essential for their survival.