Butterflies in Finland
Over a 100 different butterflies live in Finland, though several of them are at risk of extinction. In order to ensure their continued survival, these butterflies have to be protected through legal means. These include the Apollo, the Large Copper, and the Thor’s Fritillary.
Butterflies in Finland
List of Different Butterfly Species of Finland
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Arctic Fritillary (Boloria chariclea)
- Chestnut Heath (Coenonympha glycerion)
- Comma (Polygonia c-album)
- Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum)
- Cranberry Fritillary (Boloria aquilonaris)
- Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja)
- Dewy Ringlet (Erebia pandrose)
- Dingy Fritillary (Boloria improba)
- Disa Alpine (Erebia disa)
- Dusky Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lycaon)
- False Heath Fritillary (Melitaea diamina)
- Freija Fritillary (Boloria freija)
- Frigga Fritillary (Boloria frigga)
- Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)
- Grayling (Hipparchia semele)
- Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia)
- High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe)
- Jutta Arctic (Oeneis jutta)
- Lapland Ringlet (Erebia embla)
- Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros)
- Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)
- Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino)
- Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia)
- Map (Araschnia levana)
- Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)
- Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
- Meadow Ringlet (Erebia ligea)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Napaea Fritillary (Boloria napaea)
- Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe)
- Norse Grayling (Oeneis norna)
- Northern Wall Brown (Lasiommata petropolitana)
- Ocellate Bog Fritillary (Boloria eunomia)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Pallas’ Fritillary (Argynnis laodice)
- Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io)
- Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)
- Polaris Fritillary (Boloria polaris)
- Poplar Admiral (Limenitis populi)
- Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)
- Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)
- Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna)
- Scarce Heath (Coenonympha hero)
- Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
- Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
- Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
- Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
- Thor’s Fritillary (Boloria thore)
- Titania’s Fritillary (Boloria titania)
- Tullia’s Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia)
- Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)
- White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)
- White-veined Arctic (Oeneis bore)
- Woodland Brown (Lopinga achine)
- Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis xanthomelas)
- Erebia euryale euryaloides
- Erebia medusa polaris
- Euphydryas iduna
- Euphydryas intermedia
- Pararge aegeria tircis
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Amanda’s Blue (Polyommatus amandus)
- Black Hairstreak (Satyrium pruni)
- Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae)
- Cranberry Blue (Agriades optilete)
- Eastern Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes vicrama)
- European Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
- Geranium Argus (Eumedonia eumedon)
- Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
- Green-underside Blue (Glaucopsyche alexis)
- Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
- Idas Blue (Plebejus idas)
- Large Blue (Phengaris arion)
- Large Copper (Lycaena dispar)
- Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)
- Northern Brown Argus (Aricia artaxerxes)
- Orion Blue (Scolitantides orion)
- Provençal Short-tailed Blue (Cupido alcetas)
- Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe)
- Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae)
- Short-tailed Blue (Cupido argiades)
- Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus)
- Silvery Argas (Aricia nicias)
- Small Blue (Cupido minimus)
- Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus)
- Violet copper (Lycaena helle)
- White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)
- Neozephyrus quercus
- Agriades glandon aquilo
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Bath White (Pontia daplidice)
- Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi)
- Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae)
- Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea)
- Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
- Eastern Dappled White (Euchloe ausonia)
- Green-veined White (Pieris napi)
- Lesser Bath White (Pontia chloridice)
- Moorland Clouded Yellow (Colias palaeno)
- Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
- Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias hyale)
- Peak White (Pontia callidice)
- Réal’s Wood White (Leptidea juvernica)
- Small White (Pieris rapae)
- Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)
- Colias hecla sulitelma
- Colias tyche werdandi
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Apollo (Parnassius apollo)
- Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne)
- Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
- Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Alpine Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus andromedae)
- Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)
- European Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)
- Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
- Large Chequered Skipper (Heteropterus morpheus)
- Large Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus alveus)
- Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus)
- Northern Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus silvicola)
- Northern Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus centaureae)
- Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma)
Some of the most notable places for butterfly enthusiasts to visit include Vaisakko Nature Reserve, Häntälä Hollows in the town of Somero, and the newly restored Hörtsänä Arboretum.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many different butterfly species live in Finland?
Finland is home to over 100 different species of butterflies. This diverse population includes a wide range of types, from common and widespread species to several that are rare and considered at risk of extinction. The country’s varied habitats support this significant number of distinct butterfly species.
Are there any legally protected butterfly species in Finland?
Yes, several butterfly species in Finland are legally protected to prevent their extinction. Key examples of protected species include the Apollo, the Large Copper, and Thor’s Fritillary. These conservation laws are in place to ensure the survival of vulnerable populations facing threats from habitat loss and environmental changes.
What types of Fritillary butterflies are found in Finland?
Finland hosts a wide variety of Fritillary butterflies, including the Dark Green Fritillary, Heath Fritillary, and Marsh Fritillary. Other notable species from this group are the Arctic, Cranberry, and Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. They are typically characterized by their orange and black checkered wing patterns and inhabit diverse ecosystems.
Can you find the Painted Lady butterfly in Finland?
Yes, the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) is a butterfly species found in Finland. As a member of the brush-footed butterfly family (Nymphalidae), this well-known migratory species can be observed across the country. Its presence often depends on migration patterns, making sightings more common during warmer months of the year.
Is the Peacock Butterfly native to Finland?
Yes, the Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io) is a species found in Finland. It belongs to the Nymphalidae family and is easily identified by the large, vibrant eyespots on its wings. This butterfly is a common sight in various Finnish habitats, including gardens, parks, and open woodlands during its flight season.
What are some common brush-footed butterflies in Finland?
Common brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) in Finland include the Peacock Butterfly, Red Admiral, and Painted Lady. This large family also features species like the Mourning Cloak and various Fritillaries. These butterflies are widespread and can often be seen in meadows, forests, and gardens throughout the country during summer.
Which Ringlet butterfly species inhabit Finland?
Several Ringlet butterfly species inhabit Finland, including the Lapland Ringlet, Dewy Ringlet, and Meadow Ringlet. These butterflies, primarily from the Erebia genus, are well-adapted to cooler northern climates. Their typically brown wings with small eyespots provide effective camouflage in their grassland and woodland edge habitats.
