Powdered Brimstone
Gonepteryx farinosa
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
32
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonepteryx_farinosa
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Pieridae
Genus
Gonepteryx
Powdered Brimstone belongs to the family Pieridae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Powdered Brimstone faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development across its European range. Climate change is altering the distribution and phenology of its host plants, particularly buckthorn species, disrupting critical breeding cycles and larval development.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits woodland edges, scrubland, and open areas with abundant buckthorn (Rhamnus) species, particularly in mountainous and hilly regions of southern and central Europe. Requires a mosaic of flowering plants for adult nectar sources and specific host plants for larval development.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Powdered Brimstone faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development across its European range. Climate change is altering the distribution and phenology of its host plants, particularly buckthorn species, disrupting critical breeding cycles and larval development.
Climate change impacts on host plant availability and timing
Habitat loss and fragmentation from agricultural intensification
Loss of woodland edges and scrubland habitats
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Pesticide use in agricultural landscapes
Found in 32 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Powdered Brimstone (Gonepteryx farinosa). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/powdered-brimstone