Abstract
Helsinki is located on a peninsula projecting into the Baltic Sea from the south coast of Finland. The country lies in the Boreal region, which is typified by the mixed coniferous forests, although Helsinki itself is located in a narrow strip of the hemiboreal zone, which also has noble deciduous forest, similar to those of the temperate region. The region is also characterized by a variety of wetland habitats. Descriptions are provided of the following invertebrate taxa: Arachnida, Carabidae, Syrphidae, Apidae sensu lato, Formicidae, Isopoda, Lepidoptera and Odonata, as well as some of the habitats they occupy. The information provided is rather patchy, as the amount of data varies considerably between different taxa and habitats. The urban region contains some sites that are valuable for invertebrate diversity, regardless of their location. The characteristic features of the urban environment, such as mild climate and longer growing season, may be beneficial for some taxa.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Bibliography
Bäckman JPC, Teräs I (1999) Bumblebees (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in the city of Helsinki. Proceedings of the XXIV Nordic Congress of Entomology, pp 11–22
Haarto A, Kerppola S (2007) Suomen kukkakärpäset ja lähialueiden lajeja (Finnish hoverflies and some species in adjacent countries) (in Finnish with identification key in English). Otava Kirjapaino Press, Keuruu, p 647
Jakovlev J, Salmela J, Polevoi A, Penttinen J, Vartija NA (2014) Recent noteworthy findings of fungus gnats from Finland and northwestern Russia (Diptera: Ditomyiidae, Keroplatidae, Bolitophilidae and Mycetophilidae). http://biodiversitydatajournal.com/articles.php?id=1068.Accessed 3 April 2014
Kerppola S (2011a) Hammerschmidtia ingrica Stackelberg, 1952—Inkerinmahlanen Suomesta (Diptera, Syrphidae) (The species Hammerschmidtia ingrica Stackelberg 1952 in Finland). Sahlbergia 17:2–4
Kerppola S (2011b) Helsingin Vanhankaupunginlahden ja reuna-alueiden kukkakärpäset (Diptera, Syrphidae) (Hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) of the Helsinki Old City Bay and adjoining areas). Sahlbergia 17:5–19
Nieminen J, Tarnanen L, Höykinpuro J (2009) Santahamina—Sotilassaaren luontoaarteet (Santahamina—the nature treasures of a military island). National Defence University, Helsinki, p 288
Palmen E (1944) Die anemohy-drochore Ausbreitung der Insekten als zoogeographischer Faktor.(The anemohydrochore spread of insects as a zoogeographical factor). Ann Zool Soc Zool Bot Fennicae Vanamo 10:1–262
Rassi P, Hyvärinen E, Juslén A, Mannerkoski I (eds) (2010) Suomen lajien uhanalaisuus—Punainen kirja 2010 (The 2010 red list of Finnish species). Ministry of the Environment and Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki, p 508 (In Finnish and English)
Saarikivi J, Idström L, Venn S, Niemelä J, Kotze DJ (2010) Carabid beetle assemblages associated with urban golf courses in the greater Helsinki area. Eur J Entomol 107:553–561
Sundell PR, Nieminen M, Uusimäki A (2003) Helsingin uhanalaiset perhoset (The threatened butterflies and moths of Helsinki) Helsingin kaupunkisuunnitteluviraston asemakaavaosaston selvityksiä 2003: 7 ISSN 1235–4104, p 109
Venn SJ, Kotze DJ, Niemelä J (2003) Urbanization effects on carabid diversity in Boreal forests. Eur J Entomol 100:73–80
Venn SJ, Kotze DJ, Lassila T, Niemelä JK (2013) Urban dry meadows provide valuable habitat for granivorous and xerophilic carabid beetles. J Insect Conserv 17:747–764
Vepsäläinen K, Ikonen H, Koivula M (2008) The structure of ant assemblages in an urban area of Helsinki, S. Finland. Ann Zool Fennici 45:109–127
Vilisics F, Terhivuo J (2009) Inspection on materials contributing to the knowledge of terrestrial Isopoda (Crustacea, Oniscidea) in Finland. Memoranda Soc Fauna Flora Fennica 85:9–15
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the contributions of the many entomologists who provided the data on which this chapter is based, in particular Pertti Rassi, Sampsa Malmberg, Jyrki Muona, Jaakko Kullberg, Petro Pynnönen, Jarmo Saarikivi, Jussi Mäkinen, Jari Ilmonen, Jukka Salmela and Mikko Tiusanen.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Appendices
Appendix I
Coleoptera (Beetles)
Scientific name | Red List status |
---|---|
Carabidae | |
Agonum ericeti | LC |
Amara bifrons | LC |
Amara communis | LC |
Amara consularis | LC |
Amara equestris | LC |
Amara eurynota | LC |
Amara littorea | VU |
Anchomenus dorsalis | LC |
Badister bullatus | LC |
Badister solidalis | NA |
Bembidion femoratum | LC |
Bembidion lampros | LC |
Bembidion monticola | VU |
Bembidion properans | LC |
Bradycellus ruficollis | LC |
Calathus ambiguus | NT |
Calathus erratus | LC |
Calathus melanocephalus | LC |
Carabus glabratus | LC |
Carabus granulatus | LC |
Carabus hortensis | LC |
Chlaenius nigricornis | LC |
Cicindela sylvatica | LC |
Harpalus affinis | LC |
Harpalus griseus | LC |
Harpalus luteicornis | LC |
Harpalus rubripes | VU |
Leistus ferrugineus | LC |
Microlestes minutulus | LC |
Nebria brevicollis | NA |
Oodes helopioide | LC |
Ophonus rufibarbis | LC |
Panageus cruxmajor | NT |
Platynus mannerheimii | LC |
Poecilus cupreus | LC |
Poecilus versicolor | LC |
Pseudoophonus rufipes | LC |
Pterostichus aethiops | LC |
Pterostichus diligens | LC |
Pterostichus melanarius | LC |
Pterostichus niger | LC |
Pterostichus oblongopunctatus | LC |
Pterostichus quadrifoveolatus | LC |
Pterostichus rhaeticus | LC |
Stomis pumicatus | LC |
Trechus quadristriatus | LC |
Trechus secalis | LC |
Total 48 |
Appendix II
Syrphidae (Hoverflies)
Scientific name | Red List status |
---|---|
Syrphidae | |
Anasimyia interpuncta | LC |
Baccha elongata | LC |
Blera fallax | LC |
Ceriana conopsoides | NT |
Chalcosyrphus nemorum | LC |
Cheilosia albitarsis | LC |
Cheilosia impressa | LC |
Cheilosia proxima | NT |
Cheilosia psilophthalma | LC |
Cheilosia reniformis | LC |
Cheilosia semifasciata | LC |
Cheilosia vulpina | LC |
Dasysyrphus albostriatus | LC |
Dasysyrphus pauxillius | LC |
Epistrophe elegans | LC |
Epistrophe olgae | LC |
Eristalis similes | LC |
Eristalis tenax | LC |
Hammerschmidtia ingrica | DD |
Helophilus hybridus | LC |
Heringia fulvimanus | NT |
Heringia latitarsis | NT |
Melangyna quadrimaculata | LC |
Merodon equestris | LC |
Parasyrphus vittiger | LC |
Pipiza luteitarsis | NT |
Platycheirus discimanus | LC |
Sphaerophoria chongjini | LC |
Sphaerophoria loewi | LC |
Triglyphus primus | LC |
Total 31 |
Appendix III
Apidae s.l. (Bees)
Scientific name | English name | Red List status |
---|---|---|
Apidae [sensu lato] | Bees | |
Andrena barbilabris | LC | |
Andrena clarkella | LC | |
Andrena coitana | VU | |
Andrena haemorrhoa | LC | |
Andrena lapponica | LC | |
Andrena minutula | VU | |
Andrena praecox | LC | |
Andrena semilaevis | LC | |
Andrena vaga | LC | |
Apis mellifera | Honey Bee | LC |
Bombus hypnorum | Tree Bumblebee | LC |
Bombus lapidarius | Red-tailed Bumblebee | LC |
Bombus lucorum | White-tailed Bumblebee | LC |
Bombus pascuorum | Common Carder Bee | LC |
Bombus pratorum | Early Bumblebee | LC |
Bombus soroeensis | Broken-belted Bumblebee | LC |
Bombus subterraneus | Short-haired Bumblebee | LC |
Bombus terrestris | Buff-tailed Bumblebee | LC |
Bombus veteranus | LC | |
Halictus tumulorum | LC | |
Lasioglossum leucopus | LC | |
Lasioglossum lucidulum | LC | |
Nomada flavoguttata | LC | |
Nomada lathburiana | LC | |
Sphecodes longulus | LC | |
Total 26 |
Appendix IV
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Scientific name | English name | Red List status |
---|---|---|
Lepidoptera | Butterflies | |
Apatura iris | Purple emperor | NT |
Aphantopus hyperantus | Ringlet | LC |
Araschnia levana | Map | LC |
Argynnis adippe | High Brown Fritillary | LC |
Argynnis aglaja | Dark Green Fritillary | LC |
Argynnis laodice | Pallas’ Fritillary | LC |
Argynnis paphia | Silver-washed Fritillary | LC |
Boloria euphrosyne | Pearl-bordered Fritillary | LC |
Boloria selene | Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary | LC |
Brenthis ino | Lesser Marbled Fritillary | LC |
Celastrina argiolus | Holly Blue | LC |
Colias palaeno | Moorland Clouded Yellow | LC |
Cupido argiades | Short-tailed Blue | VU |
Euphydryas aurinia | Marsh Fritillary | EN |
Euphydryas maturna | Scarce Fritillary | LC |
Favonius quercus | Purple Hairstreak | LC |
Glaucopsyche alexis | Green-underside Blue | VU |
Gonepteryx rhamni | Brimstone | LC |
Hipparchia semele | Grayling | LC |
Limenitis populi | Poplar Admiral | LC |
Lycaena dispar | Large Copper | NT |
Lycaena hippothoe | Purple-edged Copper | NT |
Lycaena phlaeas | Small Copper | LC |
Maniola jurtina | Meadow Brown | VU |
Nymphalis antiopa | Camberwell Beauty | LC |
Nymphalis c-album | Comma | LC |
Nymphalis io | Peacock | LC |
Nymphalis polychloros | Large Tortoiseshell | NA |
Nymphalis urticae | Small Tortoiseshell | LC |
Nymphalis xanthomelas | Scarce Tortoiseshell | NA |
Ochlodes sylvanus | Large Skipper | LC |
Papilio machaon | Swallowtail | LC |
Pararge aegeria | Speckled Wood | LC |
Parnassius Apollo | Apollo | EN |
Pieris brassicae | Large White | LC |
Pieris daplidice | Bath White | LC |
Pieris rapae | Small White | LC |
Plebeius amandus | Amanda’s Blue | LC |
Plebeius artaxerxes | Northern Brown Argus | LC |
Plebeius eumedon | Geranium Argus | LC |
Plebeius icarus | Common Blue | LC |
Plebeius optilete | Cranberry Blue | LC |
Plebeius semiargus | Mazarine Blue | LC |
Pyrgus malvae | Grizzled Skipper | LC |
Scolitantides orion | Chequered Blue | EN |
Thymelicus lineola | Essex Skipper | LC |
Vanessa atalanta | Red Admiral | LC |
Subtotal 47 | ||
Acronicta aceris | Sycamore Moth | NT |
Adscita statices | Green Forester | LC |
Agonopterix nervosa | LC | |
Archiearis notha | Light Orange Underwing | VU |
Argyresthia albistria | VU | |
Bucculatrix ulmella | LC | |
Calamia tridens | Burren Green Moth | EN |
Carpatolechia epomidella | LC | |
Catocala promissa | Light Crimson Underwing | VU |
Catocala sponsa | Dark Crimson Underwing | NT |
Cnephasia pasiuana | EN | |
Coleophora gryphipennella | LC | |
Coleophora pyrrhulipennella | Ling Case-bearer | NT |
Cosmia pyralina | Lunar-spotted Pinion | NT |
Cucullia absinthii | LC | |
Cydia inquinatana | LC | |
Depressaria chaerophylli | EN | |
Dichonia aprilina | Merveille du jour | LC |
Discoloxia blomeri | Blomer’s Rivulet | LC |
Dysstroma infuscatum | LC | |
Ecliptopera capitata | Yellow-headed Phoenix | LC |
Ethmia quadrillella | VU | |
Euhyponomeuta stannellus | LC | |
Eupithecia actaeata | LC | |
Eupithecia egenaria | Pauper Pug | VU |
Eupithecia immundata | VU | |
Eupithecia millefoliata | Yarrow Pug | NT |
Gagitodes sagittatus | Marsh Carpet | LC |
Gracillaria syringella | Lilac Leaf Miner | LC |
Hadena compta | Varied Coronet | LC |
Hadena confusa | Marbled Coronet | LC |
Hadena rivularis | Campion | LC |
Hecatera bicolorata | Broad-barred White | LC |
Hydraecia petasitis | LC | |
Hypomecis punctinalis | Pale Oak Beauty | LC |
Ipimorpha contuse | VU | |
Lyonetia clerkella | Apple Leaf Miner | LC |
Lythria cruentaria | LC | |
Macroglossum stellatarum | Hummingbird Hawkmoth | LC |
Morophaga choragella | LC | |
Myelois circumvolutus | LC | |
Nemapogon cloacellus | Cork Moth | LC |
Nemapogon variatellus | LC | |
Opigena polygona | VU | |
Opostega salaciella | LC | |
Ortholepis vacciniella | LC | |
Orthosia gothica | Hebrew Character | LC |
Pammene splendidulana | Drab Oak Piercer | EN |
Perconia strigillaria | Grass Wave | LC |
Perizoma hydratum | LC | |
Phiaris dissolutana | RT | |
Phibalapteryx virgate | EN | |
Phyllonorycter roboris | NT | |
Polypogon lunalis | EN | |
Prays fraxinellus | Ash Bud Moth | LC |
Rhagades pruni | NT | |
Rhyparia purpurata | Purple Tiger | NT |
Scythris laminella | EN | |
Standfussiana simulans | Dotted Rustic | LC |
Thalera fimbrialis | Sussex Emerald | EN |
Tinagma perdicellum | VU | |
Yponomeuta malinellus | Apple Ermine | LC |
Ypsolopha chazariella | NA | |
Ypsolopha scabrella | Wainscot Hooktip | LC |
Subtotal 64 | ||
Grand total = 111 |
Appendix V
Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)
Scientific name | English name | Red List status |
---|---|---|
Odonata | Dragonflies | |
Aeshna affinis | Blue-eyed Hawker | NA |
Aeshna grandis | Brown Hawker | LC |
Aeshna serrata | Baltic Hawker | LC |
Coenagrion lunulatum | Crescent Bluet/Irish Damselfly | LC |
Coenagrion puella | Azure Bluet | LC |
Coenagrion pulchellum | Variable Bluet | LC |
Enallagma cyathigerum | Common Bluet | LC |
Epitheca bimaculata | Eurasian Baskettail | LC |
Erythromma najas | Large Redeye | LC |
Ischnura pumilio | Small Bluetail | LC |
Lestes sponsa | Common Spreadwing | LC |
Lestes virens | Small Spreadwing | NA |
Leucorrhinia caudalis | Lilypad Whiteface | LC |
Leucorrhinia pectoralis | Yellow-spotted Whiteface | LC |
Libellula depressa | Broad-bodied Chaser | LC |
Libellula quadrimaculata | Four-spotted Chaser | LC |
Ophiogomphus cecilia | Green Snaketail Dragonfly | LC |
Sympecma paedisca | Siberian Winter Damsel | LC |
Sympetrum danae | Black Darter | LC |
Sympetrum fonscolombii | Red-veined Darter | NA |
Sympetrum sanguineum | Ruddy Darter | LC |
Sympetrum vulgatum | Moustached Darter | LC |
Total 22 |
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Venn, S. et al. (2015). Helsinki. In: Kelcey, J. (eds) Vertebrates and Invertebrates of European Cities:Selected Non-Avian Fauna. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1698-6_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1698-6_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1697-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1698-6
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)