Butterflies and Dragonflies at Vanhankaupunginlahti Bay

Entomofauna in Viikki is diverse due to the great variety of habitats. The most visible insects to the occasional visitor are butterflies. Early in spring, when the sun shines to Viikki and warms fields and headlands, small tortoiseshells, brimstones and mourning cloak butterflies are first encountered. These species hibernate as adults and, thus, can be seen flying around very early in spring. In summertime, green-veined white butterflies are the most commonly spotted in Viikki. When autumn arrives, beautiful admirals and red-and-blue peacock butterflies stop at meadows in Viikki during their annual migration to south. Peacock butterfly, however, seems to have also established a permanent population on the area.

Various species of dragonflies can also be seen in Viikki, especially over the Vanhankaupunginlahti bay wetlands. Blue darners, in particular, draw visitors’ attention. These large dragonflies hunt for flying insects and criss-cross over the reed beds in Vanhankaupunginlahti bay.

 

Species mentioned 

Admiral – Vanessa atalanta
Blue darner – Aeshna sp.
Brimstone – Gonepteryx rhamni
Green-veined white butterfly – Pieris napi
Mourning cloak butterfly – Nymphalis antiopa
Peacock butterfly – Inachis io
Small tortoiseshell – Aglais urticae