• Small Skipper
• Essex Skipper
• Large Skipper
• Dingy Skipper
• Grizzled Skipper
• Swallowtail
• Clouded Yellow
• Brimstone
• Large White
• Small White
• Green-veined White
• Orange-tip
• Green Hairstreak
• Purple Hairstreak
• White-letter Hairstreak
• Small Copper
• Brown Argus
• Common Blue
• Chalkhill Blue
• Holly Blue
• White Admiral
• Red Admiral
• Painted Lady
• Small Tortoiseshell
• Peacock
• Comma
• Pearl-bordered Fritillary
• Dark Green Fritillary
• Silver-washed Fritillary
• Speckled Wood
• Wall Brown
• Marbled White
• Gatekeeper
• Meadow Brown
• Small Heath
• Ringlet
• < HOME PAGE

Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni

Park Corner Heath, Photo: Dave Mitchell

Species Champion: Mike and Tracy Pepler

Recorded sightings in 2009: 256

Recorded sightings in 2010: 362

Status in Rother: Well distributed and stable where its foodplant (Alder Buckthorn) occurs. Would probably benefit from more Alder Buckthorn being planted.

Habitat: The Brimstone can occur in scrubby grassland, woodland, hedgerows, and open ground wherever Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn are available in sunny positions. The butterfly ranges widely away from the coast and can often be seen flying along roadside verges and tracks with hedgerows, well away from foodplants.

ID Tips: Large, very bright greeny yellow. The female is much more pale, almost white.

First sighting in Rother (2009): 15 March
Recorded by: David Landon

First sighting in Rother (2010): 14 March
Recorded by: Derek Bates

UK Distribution trend: -3%

Ten year UK Population trend (1995-2004): -11%

Long term UK population trend: 22%