Bright yellow butterflies

roundwood123 · Post by **roundwood123** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:02 pm

Hi all,
Bearing in mind i am very much a novice in all things "butterfly" i was wondering if someone could advise me as to what i have been seeing flying around during the last couple of weeks, the butterflies are large, fast flying and appear bright yellow, are they Brimstones or as i suspect large whites that are newly emerged , when newly emerged do large whites appear yellow in the sunshine when flying,, thanks Steve

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:23 pm

Male Brimstones are the most likely. The females are paler.

Cheers,

- Pete

roundwood123 · Post by **roundwood123** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:06 am

Thanks Pete,,

eccles · Post by **eccles** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 7:10 pm

Large whites have a pale yellow underside to the lower wing but in flight only appear white. This is whether they are newly emerged or older individuals. The yellow brimstone males are very active at this time of the year, having emerged from winter hibernation, and are looking for females.
I have seen no large whites yet, but small whites have been on the wing for a couple of weeks now in my area near Bristol.