Brimstone vs Madeiran Large White
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Brimstone | Madeiran Large White |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gonepteryx rhamni | Pieris brassicae wollastoni |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Pieridae | Pieridae |
| Size | 52-60 mm wingspan | 5-6 cm wingspan |
| Habitat | Heathland | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North Africa | Portugal |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
Brimstone
Males are vivid sulphur-yellow; females are pale greenish-white. Leaf-shaped wings provide excellent camouflage at rest.
Did You Know?
The word butterfly may derive from the butter-yellow colour of the Brimstone, one of the earliest to fly.
Madeiran Large White
A subspecies of the large white butterfly that was endemic to Madeira. It has not been reliably recorded since the 1970s and may be extinct.
Did You Know?
Pesticide use and introduced parasitoid wasps are believed to have driven it to the brink of extinction.