The brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) is a long-lived Palearctic butterfly of the family Pieridae, among the longest-lived of any butterfly species at 10–12 months as an adult. Males are a distinctive sulphur-yellow; females are pale greenish-white — the leaf-shaped wing outline providing camouflage when at rest with wings closed. Adults emerge in late summer, feed heavily to build fat reserves, then hibernate through winter, reappearing as one of the earliest butterflies on the wing each spring. In gardens across Europe, brimstones are attracted to buddleia, red valerian, thistles, and teasel, exploiting deep tubular flowers with their notably long proboscis.

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Widespread throughout the Palearctic: from western Europe (including the British Isles) east through temperate Asia, and south into North Africa. Very scarce in Scotland, largely following the distribution of its larval foodplants (buckthorn species); a rare vagrant north of the central belt. In Ireland, represented by the endemic subspecies gravesi, with established populations in the Burren, West Galway/Mayo, and a central band from Clare to Kildare. A univoltine species with one generation per year.