Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
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Butterflies 3 - Brimstones
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni (m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni (m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni (m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni (m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni (m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni (m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni (m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni (m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni (m) BRIMSTONE
BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni
(m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni (m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni (m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni (m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx
rhamni (m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx
rhamni (m) BRIMSTONE
BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni
(m)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx rhamni (m,
f)
BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY Gonepteryx
rhamni (f)
·
Apart
from rare migrants there are only two predominantly bright yellow butterfly
species likely to be encountered in the UK, the predominantly migratory Clouded Yellow Colias croceus and the native Brimstone Gonepteryx
rhamni, believed by etymologists
to be the eponymous "butter-coloured
fly"
more recently corrupted to
"butterfly". Adult Brimstones are very long-lived,
possibly even lasting for a year in favourable circumstances. Although conspicuous
in flight, these insects are remarkably leaf-like at rest, very well
camouflaged and therefore difficult to locate. There is some evidence to
suggest that a few (very tatty) individuals may occasionally overlap with the
emergence of the following generation of adults. Post-hibernation Brimstones
emerge as the weather warms up and actively patrol woodland rides, typically
only briefly visiting nectar sources as their main concern is to reproduce as
high summer approaches. They are relatively difficult to photograph at this
time of year as they fly purposefully and usually only settle for a short time.
When a male encounters a paler female the pair will
often spiral around one another at length, rising high into the trees before
drifting away from view. Sometimes the observer will be lucky enough to locate
a female at ground level with one or more males in close attendance responding
to her pheromonal signals. By this time (midsummer) the wings are often torn.
The final two photographs illustrate courtship behaviour and oviposition (an
egg is visible), the only situation (other than flight) in which these insects
are likely to be observed with their wings open. The females are much paler
than the males and they may easily be mistaken for Large White Butterflies Pieris brassicae from a distance, although
there are no black markings and the flight pattern is
different. The progress from egg to imago is rapid and the next generation of
adults spend much of their time avidly feeding prior to hibernating in late summer.
Just some of the wide variety of colourful wild and cultivated nectar sources
used through the flight periods may be seen in these pictures.
- David’s short film of Brimstone Butterflies may be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY-S1OhmDjY.
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