Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) butterfly-British spring time insects-macro photographs art and downloads.

These butterflies are such a stunning sight but sadly rare sighting here in the Cambridgeshire Fens UK.

Overwinters as an adult, and one of the first butterflies to appear in the spring. Flies on heaths, and along hedges and the edges of woodlands during June and July. Found in most of Europe, except the artic and Scotland, at elevations up to 2,000 metres.

The caterpillar feeds on Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus) and, less often, on Alder buckthorn (Frangula Alnus). It is green, spotted with black and striped with darker green and white.

The chrysalis is green and brown and secured to the stem of the plants close to the ground.

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