Brimstone. Photo: Chris Rowland
Often seen very early in the year, this bright yellow (male) butterfly is a lovely sign of spring. For all its bright colouring, it can be amazingly difficult to see when it lands among leaves.
Where to see
- Habitat: Woods, hedgerows and scrubby grassland. Often visits gardens, especially in late summer to seek nectar so they can fatten up to survive the winter. In winter it tends to hide in evergreens such as Ivy and Holly.
- Caterpillar foodplants: Buckthorn; on limestone/chalk it is Purging Buckthorn; on more acid soils it is Alder Buckthorn.
- Best places: Widespread.
Distribution map
Brimstone was recorded from these 1km squares in Dorset (2020-24).
- Key:
- 1 record
- 2-9 records
- 10+ records
When to see
Single brooded. Most likely to be seen from Feb/March through to Oct/Nov, though numbers may be low in June/July while it is breeding. It overwinters as an adult.
Sightings by month (last 5 years)*
This year and last*
What to look for
A large butterfly, the male being bright lemon yellow and the female whitish in flight but can look pale green at rest. It always lands with its wings closed: you very rarely see the upperside.
The male is sometimes mistaken for a Clouded Yellow, but that butterfly is a deeper golden, almost orange colour. The female can be mixed up with the Large White at a distance, but if it lands, you can see the wings are a very different shape, with pointed tips.
The Brimstone has a very long proboscis, so it can nectar on flowers which most other UK butterflies cannot, such as runner beans and teasels. It has a preference for purple/pink flowers.
This is an early-to-bed butterfly, settling down for the night around 3.00-4.00pm.
Despite the bright colour of the male, it can be remarkably difficult to see when it lands among leaves – the veins which are quite prominent on the underwings resemble the veins of leaves.
Photo gallery
Click thumbnails to view full-size images.
Brimstone male on bright pink dianthus flower. Photo: Lyn Pullen
Brimstone male. Photo: James Gould
Brimstone female: note the slight green cast to the white wings. Photo: Ken Dolbear.
Brimstone female: note how green it looks against the white blossom. Photo: Sarah Faulkner.
Brimstone. Very rare view of the upper wings. Photo: Ken Dolbear
Brimstone with lots of wing missing, presumably to birds, but it shows a rare view of the dark furry body. Photo: Keith Beswick.
Brimstone male (bottom) and female, showing the colour difference. Photo: Shona Refoy.
Brimstone male on bluebell: a flower on which most butterflies cannot nectar because of the depth of the flower. Photo: Penny Hawes
Brimstone - to show how well camouflaged even the bright yellow male can be. Photo: Elaine Townsend.
Brimstone caterpillar. Photo: Ann Barlow