The common brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) is a true survival artist and the first herald of spring. It overwinters as a fully developed butterfly (adult) in the cold, often hidden in evergreen plants such as ivy or brambles. It produces its own natural antifreeze (glycerol), which protects its bodily fluids from freezing. As soon as the first rays of sun in late winter or early spring raise the temperature above freezing, it awakens from its cold torpor and takes flight – often as early as February!
[Photo: Reto Künzler, Bern]
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