Gonepteryx

Gonepteryx is a small genus of butterflies in the family Pieridae, commonly known as brimstones. It contains two widely recognized species, Gonepteryx rhamni (the common brimstone) and Gonepteryx cleopatra (the Cleopatra brimstone).

Adults have a distinctive leaf-like wing silhouette when at rest. Males are bright lemon-yellow, while females are paler and often greenish, with the underside of both sexes resembling a dried leaf to aid camouflage.

Lifecycle details center on buckthorn hosts. Eggs are laid on buckthorn (Rhamnus) species. Caterpillars feed on buckthorn leaves, and pupation occurs in a chrysalis. In many populations, adults overwinter in sheltered places and emerge in the spring, sometimes producing one to two generations per year depending on climate.

Distribution and habitat: Gonepteryx rhamni is found across much of Europe and parts of Asia, while Gonepteryx cleopatra is native to North Africa, southern Europe, and parts of the eastern Mediterranean. They favor hedgerows, woodland edges, and sunny scrub where buckthorn host plants occur and nectar sources are available.