Brimstone/ Citronfjäril
Distribution ( Text From Wikipedia)
G. rhamni lives in Europe, North Africa and Asia as far east as Mongolia. It is widely distributed across the southern half of the United Kingdom, and has been steadily increasing its range in the north of England but is limited by the distribution of its larval foodplants and is quite possibly close to its maximum possible distribution now unless their foodplants’ range also increases. In Ireland, it has a much more localised distribution.
Life cycle
G. rhamni is one of the longest lived butterflies, living up to thirteen months, although most of this time is spent in hibernation. As it is often the first butterfly to be seen in the spring, sometimes as early as January when hibernating adults are awoken on a sunny day, there is a popular myth that it is this butterfly which gave us the word butterfly, a corruption of butter-coloured fly.
The eggs are laid singly on the leaves of either Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) or Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) – the only two food plants – and females will wander far and wide in search for these particular shrubs. The larvae and Pupae are both green and very well camouflaged making them difficult to find in the wild. Upon emerging from the pupae, Brimstone butterflies spend the summer feeding on nectar to build up energy reserves for the winter and by the end of August they are already beginning their long sleep. They seek out evergreen scrub, a favourite being dense, old ivy growth. The brimstone usually hides until early spring, although a warm January day will occasionally wake an eager male. There is only one brood a year.
It looks like the Lunar Moth we find in our Adirondack Mountains.
Mourning Cloaks are the longest lived and first seen here in Wisconsin. They live about a year.
Yes, Morning Cloaks are early, I saw one some weeks ago! Ann
Thanks for the info!
Wally, that was interesting info. When spreading out the wings, the Butterfly is very yellow!
Thanks for dropping by!