Gonepteryx rhamni
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
Gonepteryx rhamni, commonly named the Common Brimstone, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae. It lives throughout the Palearctic zone and is commonly found across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Across much of its range, it is the only species of its genus, and is therefore simply known locally as the Brimstone. Its wing span size is 60–74 mm (2.4–2.9 in). It should not be confused with the Brimstone moth Opisthograptis luteolata.
The brimstone relies on two species of buckthorn plants as host plants for its larvae; this influences its geographic range and distribution, as these plants are commonly found in wetlands. The adult brimstone travels to woodland areas to spend seven months overwintering. In spring when their host plants have developed, they return to the wetlands to breed and lay eggs. Both the larval and adult forms of the common brimstone have protective coloration and behaviour that decreases their chances of being recognised and subsequently preyed upon.
The adult common brimstone has sexual dimorphism in its wing coloration: males have yellow wings and iridescence while females have greenish-white wings and are not iridescent. This iridescence is affected by environmental factors.
The name "butterfly" is believed to have originated from this species, which was called the "butter-coloured fly" by early British naturalists. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biebrza National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 2 | Triglav National Park | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | |
| 3 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 4 | Tatra National Park | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | |
| 5 | Białowieża National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 6 | Aigüestortes National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 7 | Plitvice Lakes National Park | 🇭🇷 Croatia | |
| 8 | Gauja National Park | 🇱🇻 Latvia | |
| 9 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 10 | Picos de Europa National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 11 | Mercantour National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 12 | Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 13 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 14 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 15 | Ecrins National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 16 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 17 | Vanoise National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 18 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 19 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helsinki | 🇫🇮 Finland | |
| 2 | Warsaw | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 3 | London | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 4 | Liverpool | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 5 | Berlin | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 6 | Nizhny Novgorod | 🇷🇺 Russia | |
| 7 | Rotterdam [The Hague] | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | |
| 8 | Hamburg | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 9 | Almaty | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | |
| 10 | Kyiv | 🇺🇦 Ukraine |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Brimstone sighting in Berlin on a given day, based on 117 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 72nd most-seen of the 1065 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February–April and July
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Brimstone in Berlin on a given day, against under 5% in November to January, the lowest months.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Brimstone sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
5th of 37
Of the 37 cities where we can rate Common Brimstone sightings, Berlin ranks 5th at about 10%. The best odds are in Helsinki (Finland, about 20%), Warsaw (Poland, about 20%) and London (United Kingdom, about 10%).
Same family: Pieridae
The closest relatives of the Common Brimstone that you can see in Berlin (family Pieridae, Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs) are Green-Veined White (about 20%), Small White (about 20%) and Large White (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Brimstone is recorded against all the insects logged in Berlin (117 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
