A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Gonepteryx rhamni
The male is sulphur yellow on the upper side and the female white with a greenish tinge but both have an orange spot in the centre of each wing. They never settle with their wings open and from the underside the sexes are more difficult to separate but the female is still paler. Their wing shape is unique and is designed to act as camouflage while they rest and during hibernation. G. rhamni is one of the longest lived butterflies, living up to thirteen months, although most of this time is spent in hibernation. As it is often the first butterfly to be seen in the spring, sometimes as early as January when hibernating adults are awoken on a sunny day.
Mountains at 1900 m. Parque Nacional de Sierra de Guadarrama, Peñalara
Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/1000 sec.; f/16; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 300.0 mm. No flash fired
Spotted on Jul 23, 2014
Submitted on Oct 28, 2014
No Comments