Breeding: Gonepteryx rhamni

[wolf]

Yet another project from this year. A very common species, flying everywhere. I found eggs on the hostplant in the field, the hostplant being Frangula alnus.
Lifecycle information: Total lifecycle from egg to imago was about 5 weeks.
Eggs used 9 days to hatch
Larval stages lasted 14-18 days
Pupal stages lasted 14 days
Difficulty rating based on % of individuals gotten through to imago(1=hard, 5=easy): 5/5

Egg


L1


L2


L3


L4


L5



Pupa


Imago



A few more high res pictures over HERE

[bobw]

I've never heard of G. rhamni having two generations, but they do spend about a year as adults. The ones that emerge in summer overwinter but don't pair and lay until the following spring.

[adamcotton]

I guess it's a case of parents and offspring in the same year, but there is only one complete life cycle per year.

Adam.

[wolf]

You guys might be right. Allthough i could swear i've seen fresh females laying eggs in middle of summer, but my memory could be wrong
I removed the original statement just to be sure.

[nomihoudai]

I don't know what the initial text was, but Gonepteryx rhamni is one of the longest living species of butterflies in Europe. The specimen that hatch in summer do not lay eggs but will go into hibernation. When the weather is cold it can happen that a specimen that hibernated survives until June and still lays eggs.