Butterflies of the Republic of Karelia

Butterflies of Karelia: Russia’s north

Karelia is a land of thousands of lakes, pine forests, and sphagnum bogs. Harsh northern climate limits butterfly diversity: about 60 day-flying species — half as many as in Moscow Oblast. Yet rare arctic species live here that you will not find in Central Russia.

Taiga and bog biotopes

Sphagnum bogs

Karelian bogs are unique biotopes for specialized northern species. They support:

• Freija’s fritillary (Boloria freija) — early, flies in May–June on bogs with cranberry
• Polaris fritillary (Boloria polaris) — arctic–alpine species, northernmost districts
• Sulphurs of the genus Colias — fly over open bogs

Pine forests and forest edges

In light pine woods on warm edges occur common species: small tortoiseshell, peacock, brimstone. In more southern districts — fritillaries and several blues.

River meadows and lake shores

Meadow areas along rivers and Lake Ladoga are the richest sites. Checkerspots, orange tip, and comma occur here.

Rare species

Listed in the Red Data Book of Karelia:

• Polaris fritillary — northernmost districts of the republic
• Purple emperor (Apatura iris) — old damp forests with willows
• Mnemosyne (Parnassius mnemosyne) — individual sites in the south

Best sites

Kivach Nature Reserve — rich forest and meadow biotopes, accessible to tourists.

Around Petrozavodsk — meadows on the shore of Lake Onega, several blues.

Lake Ladoga shore districts — rocky meadows and forest edges with diverse entomofauna.

Paanajärvi National Park — northernmost bog species.

Seasonal calendar

To identify bog species use the key by place of encounter.