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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.

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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.

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Correspondence to Stephen Venn Ph.D. .

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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

 
  1. LC least concern, NA not available, NT near threatened, VU vulnerable

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

 
  1. LC least concern, NT near threatened, DD data deficient

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

  
  1. LC least concern, NT near threatened, VU vulnerable

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

  
  1. EN endangered, LC least concern, NA not available, NT near threatened, VU vulnerable

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

  
  1. NA not available, LC least concern

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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

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