Only occasionally recorded on The Lizard and in the west of Cornwall, elsewhere Brimstones are among the first butterflies to be spotted in early spring.
Photo: Amanda Scott
Scientific name: Gonepteryx rhamni
Cornish name: ‘Tikki-dui’ is the general word for butterfly
What to look for:
- Family: Pieridae
- Colouring and appearance: Bright yellow males; very pale, green-white females. Both sexes have veined wings
- Size: Wingspan, c. 60mm
- Where: Woodland, hedgerows and scrubby grassland. Depite being common in England and Wales, it is very scarce on The Lizard and west of Cornwall due to lack of availability of its larval foodplant (Alder Buckthorn)
- When: Most of the year (including on bright days in winter), with a dip (but not complete absence) around June to July. There is a single new generation each year
- Caterpillar foodplant: Buckthorn (calcareous soils) and Alder Buckthorn (acid, wet soils)
- Similar species: Males may be confused at a glance with the Clouded Yellow, and the much paler females with the Large White
The bright yellow Brimstone males and much paler females, dipping fast and free among the foliage of open woodland and scrubby grassland, are like jewels on days of golden sun. They are often spotted on the first early days of spring, being one of the UK butterflies that hibernate as adults over the winter, sheltering in Ivy or Bramble. Fairly easy to recognise in flight (though males may be confused with the Clouded Yellow, and females with the Large White), when perching they are much harder to spot, as the greenish underside and scalloped edges of the wings blend in with the leaves of their resting place.
Brimstones are, in fact, very scarce on The Lizard, probably due to the relative lack of its larval foodplant, and it is more common in the east of Cornwall. The species is, however, occasionally spotted here as it is a great wanderer (especially the female), so it is not impossible you may be very lucky and see one.
Did you know…?
…the Brimstone can live as an adult for up to 11 months, including its overwintering period.
More information and references:
Board, S., Besterman, T., Dawson, B., Goodere, D., Goodere, M. and Poland, C., 2021. Butterflies of Cornwall: Atlas for the Twenty-first Century. Pisces Publications, Newbury, Berkshire.
Butterfly Conservation website
Published: March 2025
Author: Amanda Scott
Photos: Amanda Scott