A-Z Challenge 2015 - Butterflies - 'B'

B - Brimstone

Brimstone is the archaic name for sulphur which may be associated with volcanic fumaroles like this:

Sulphurous fumarole (Italy)

Fire and brimstone occurs in the Bible as an expression for the wrath of God.

"The breath of Jehovah, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it." - Isaiah 30:33

The expression is also used to describe a style of Christian preaching that uses a vivid description of judgement and eternal damnation.

However the word butterfly is believed to be derived from "butter-coloured fly" which is attributed to the - 

Male Brimstone Butterfly (in flight)

The Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) is one of the longest living (c.11 months) British butterflies and one of the few to hibernate as an adult.

Its larvae feed on the leaves of the Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartia) or Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus). The caterpillar feeds on the food plant and are found lying along the mid-rib on the upper side of the leaf.

Brimstone caterpillar

Male Brimstone on a bluebell

Although the male is a bright high yellow, the female is a very pale yellow, almost white.

It occurs in England and Wales but not in Scotland; its range extends from England and the welsh borders north to Yorkshire, Cheshire and the southern parts of the Lake District. I have yet to see one in the hedges and verges in North Yorkshire.

Love is like a butterfly
As soft and gentle as a sigh
The multicolored moods of love are like its satin wings

Photo attributions:

• Fumarole - Jan 1 2006, by Brisk g - Public domain
• Common Brimstone butterfly male in flight - 22 July 2014, by Charles j Sharp; CC BY-SA 2.0
• Brimstone caterpillar on buckthorn leaf - 28 May 2012, by Giles San Martin (Namur, Belgium); CC BY-SA 2.0
• Male Brimstone butterfly on bluebell - 22 Apr 2008, geograph.org.uk, by Graham Newell - CC BY-SA 2.0
• Video - Brimstone Butterfly, Anna Rubato