This finding represents the northernmost record of Brachycyrtus ornatus and Brachycyrtinae as a whole, although not by much, as the B. ornatus records from southern Sweden and Norway are latitudinally close (GBIF 2025b). This species is likely a recent colonist in south-western continental Finland, as ichneumonologist Reijo Jussila has researched Darwin wasps in the region for many decades without encounters (R. Jussila, pers. comm.). Moreover, the B. ornatus records from Sweden and Norway show a tentative trend of records at higher latitudes being more recent than records at lower latitudes (GBIF 2025b). Therefore, it is likely that the northern edge of this species' range is expanding, possibly driven by global climate warming. This is, however, uncertain as Darwin wasps are understudied insects and Brachycyrtinae are rarely collected (Wahl and Gauld 2002). In the Palaearctic, B. ornatus has been recorded as far south as in France, Italy, North Macedonia, Turkey and Iran (Kolarov and Ghahari 2007, Kolarov 2009, Çoruh et al. 2016, GBIF 2025b). Based on a range estimation of the European records, the species likely occurs in many countries currently without records, for example, the Baltic countries.

Besides obvious sexual dimorphism in the morphology of the structures of the latter metasomal tergites, B. ornatus males and females have been noted to otherwise be similar (Karlsson and Magnusson 2011). However, based on some specimens in Sweden, many corresponding areas with yellow patches in the females are absent or underdeveloped in the males (replaced by black; Karlsson and Magnusson (2011)). There is significant colour variation in females, particularly in the size of the yellow patches and the amount of reddish colour on the metasomal tergites, for example, some females can have a uniformly black propodeum (see e.g. Vas (2013)), whereas the propodeum of our specimen bears a large, inverted U-shaped, yellow figure (Fig. 3); some specimens from Italy can be described as yellow with black patches and an entirely yellow propodeum (F. Di Giovanni, pers. comm.). Metasomal tergites may contain large red portions, usually on tergites 2–3 (see specimens in GBIF (2025b)), which are rarely indicated in males (F. Di Giovanni, pers. comm.) or be more or less entirely black, except for the yellow hind margin (see, for example, Vas (2013) or Fig. 3). Consistent geographical patterns of colour variation are not evident based on the current available photographs of the species from different locations.

At the outset of the Urban Biodiversity Parks project, the Zoological Museum of the University of Turku (Biodiversity Unit) conducted a comprehensive faunistic, floristic and soil survey. This baseline dataset serves several important functions. It provides a detailed overview of species diversity for relevant stakeholders, establishes a reference point for long-term monitoring of ecological restoration efforts and supports future evaluations of restoration outcomes at ten-year and twenty-year intervals. Additionally, the survey contributes to the development of urban biodiversity conservation strategies through the application of innovative approaches, including environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis used in soil surveys.

Our discovery of Brachycyrtus ornatus in Finland, a result of the project's faunistic survey, highlights that even urban or semi-urban areas can host rare or previously unrecorded species. These can be discovered in surveys and may be incorporated into strategies aiming to increase biodiversity as subject species of long-term monitoring. In the context of the Urban Biodiversity Parks project, such findings may also promote increased community engagement and interest in local biodiversity strategies and outcomes.