Page 129 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Pieridae
DISTRIBUTION Europe, North Africa, across the Middle East and northern Asia
HABITAT Various, including grassland, woodlands, parks, and gardens
HOST PLANTS Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) and Buckthorn
(Rhamnus cathartica)

NOTE Pale green caterpillar that is well camouflaged among leaves
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but widespread and common

ADULT WINGSPAN
2⅜–2¹⁵∕₁₆ in (60–74 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1⁵∕₁₆ in (33 mm)
GONEPTERYX RHAMNI
BRIMSTONE 127

(LINNAEUS, 1758)

Brimstone caterpillars hatch from pale, yellow-green eggs
laid singly some 10 to 14 days earlier on the youngest leaves of
the host plant. The young larvae move to the upperside of the
leaf to feed. At rest, they lie along the midrib of the leaf, and
if disturbed they raise the front half of their body. Their main
natural enemies are birds and parasitic wasps. The larval stage
takes about a month. When the caterpillars are ready to pupate, Actual size
they attach themselves to the underside of a leaf or stem by a
silk pad and girdle.

Like the caterpillar, the green pupa is well camouflaged, as it
resembles a curled leaf. The emerging, long-lived butterfly feeds

on nectar in the summer and then hibernates until early spring;

it is often the first butterfly to be seen each year. Many claim that

the conspicuous yellow wings of the adult Brimstone gave rise

to the word butterfly from “butter-colored fly.”

The Brimstone caterpillar is green with tiny,
black spots, the shade of green matching that
of the host plant on which it lives. Its body is
covered with ne, short hairs. The caterpillar
is very similar to that of the Cabbage White
(Pieris rapae).