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Description: Brimstones are bright yellow butterflies, and are often the first butterflies to be seen in spring. Male brimstone butterflies have sulphur-yellow forewings and hindwings with an orange central spot. The female's fore- and hindwings are a delicate yellow or pale green with an orange central spot. Both butterflies have greenish veined underwings. The caterpillars are bluish-green with a pale line low down on each side and feed on buckthorn and alder buckthorn. The pupa looks like a curled leaf. New adults emerge from their chrysalids in July and live until the following July. Adults hibernate over winter in woodlands and emerge on warm spring days. Last year's brimstones are often the first butterflies to be seen in spring. They are most likely to be found in woodland, gardens or meadows, sipping nectar from teasel, knapweed and buddleia. Brimstones are common in most of the UK, and have been spreading in recent years, particularly in northern England. They are protected in Northern Ireland but they are not listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List 2000.
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