The expected outcome is a complete actualized species list of the saproxylic beetles present in Belgium for which we have valid and traceable data at our disposal, with dynamic distribution map for each of them.

Distribution data and maps in general will be very useful tools to interpret species lists from future sampling campaigns, and to use them as a basis for focused sampling and monitoring of endangered or possibly extinct species.

Eventually, these data will also be a valuable help in producing a Red List for selected saproxylic beetle families (currently proposed by IUCN on a European scale).

Saproxylic beetles constitute an important part of forest biodiversity. Since many years there is a great interest in saproxylophagous/xylobiont insects from various stakeholders. Traditionally, engineers in forest management are interested in species causing damage to standing wood, in Belgium primarily caused by bark beetles (Scolytidae). Hence, distribution maps of pest species would allow them to master any potential changes in dispersal and learn more about dangerous invasive species and potential predatory species, able to control damaging insects.

On the other hand many xylobiont species are not harmful at all and prefer to live in dead and decaying wood. Their presence is often an indication of maturity and quality of a forest. Incidentally, many of these rare species belong to the same taxonomic groups (families) of species predating on bark beetles.

In Belgium, there are no recent and complete catalogues or distribution maps for most of the saproxylic beetle families, which poses a problem handling questions concerning biodiversity conservation, forest health, or dealing with invasive species.

All label data of the specimens of RBINS have been digitized in an Access database, in which the following data are stored: species name, sex, locality, collecting date and if available the used trapping method or ecological data, collector and repository (box, drawer). All digitized specimens received a control label to avoid multiple digitizations in the future.

The digitized collections are located at RBINS, which guarantees continuity of the records for further reference. The origin of these collections is varied: RBINS and RBES (Royal Belgian Entomological Society) collections, private persons’ collections acquired by the RBINS, etc. In addition, quite a number of research associates of RBINS and entomologist amateurs have given access to their collections for digitization.

Identification of most material has been verified and can be assured, or could be qualified as good. Only accurate geographic information have been taken in account and transferred in a UTM code 5x5kilometers square. When more than one possibility was encountered for the locality present on the labels of the specimen, the record was not used.

Species distribution maps have been build according to four models :

• general distribution map with no reference for the collecting date
• map with collecting data prior to 1950
• map with collecting data between 1950 and 1980
• map with collecting data posterior to 1980

These dates’ periods have been chosen in accordance with their use in other previous beetles maps and catalogue or red lists (cf. Carabid beetles), and correspond to pivot-dates of our history of Belgian entomology (Desender et al., 2008 a & b).

A few intercepted species found on stored wood in the harbors or in houses have not been mapped.

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences – collection database DaRWIN (Data Research Warehouse Information Network) : http://www.darwin.naturalsciences.be.

RBINS entomological collections: https://www.naturalsciences.be/nl/science/collection_page/517

Belgian Species list : http://www.species.be

Utmost care was taken that the data incorporated in the database, and from which the maps have been created, are correct. Persons retrieving information from this website for their own research should acknowledge the usage of data from this website in the following format:

Drumont, A., Kerkhof, S. & Grootaert, P. 2011. Saproxylic beetles from Belgium, online distribution maps of species (Coleoptera). World Wide Web electronic publication (https://projects.biodiversity.be/beetles/) [accession date]

We are indebted to Wouter Dekoninck (RBINS) for the encoding and preparation of the data for this project.

We also sincerely thank our coleopterist colleagues, who have kindly contributed to this website by confirming determinations or by providing original observations or collecting data for saproxylic beetles.

BAUGNEE Jean-Yves
BEAULIEU Jean (via Monique FELIX)
BONAMIE Guido
BOOSTEN Guy
BOSMANS Robert
BUSET Alice-Marie
CAMMAERTS Roger
CARON Chantal
CHAPELLE José
CLOTH Hubert
CONSTANT Jérôme
COPPEE Jean-Louis
COPPEE Jean-Luc (Asbl Les Bocages)
COPPEE Thomas
COUNHAYE Marc
CREVECOEUR Luc
CURLETTI Gianfranco
DELBOL Marc
DELEDICQUE Roland
DELGLEIZE Jérémy
DELWAIDE Maurice
DRUMONT Alain
DUJARDIN Rudy
DUVIVIER Jean-Pierre
FONTAINE Olivier
GALANT Marcel
GERARD Yvonnick
GRIFNEE Vincent
GROTZ Roger
GUINEZ Rémi
HANOT Stéphane
HECQ Jacques
HENNUY Jean-Jacques
HENRARD Arnaud
HUYGHEBAERT-DEVONDEL Martine
IGNACE David
JOLY Claude
KERKHOF Stefan
LAYS Pascal
LEDUC Frédéric
LEMPEREUR Jean-Michel
LEONARD Philippe
LIMBOURG Pol
LODEWYCKX Marc
MAL Noël
MAQUET Daniel
MEGANCK Roger
MEURIS Eric
MIESSEN Geoffrey
MINET Gérard
MISONNE Bernard
MOUCHERON Bernard
MURET Patrick
NAVEZ Pierre
OREMANS Philippe
PAQUAY Marc
PLETINCK René
RAEMDONCK Hugo
RENNESON Jean-Luc
ROSE Louis
ROUARD Michel
SCHIETTECATTE Bertie
SCHMIT Jacques
SCHOOLMEESTERS Paul
SION Marie
SION Michel
SMETS Koen
STASSEN Eugene
THIEREN Yves
THISQUEN Xavier
THOMAS Arno
TROUKENS Willy
VAN GRIMBERGE Agnes
VAN NUFFEL Christiaan
WARZEE Nathalie
WOESTYN Gérard
WOUTERS Wim

Desender, K., Dekoninck, W. & D. Maes, 2008 (a). An updated Red List of the ground and tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in Flanders (Belgium). Bulletin van het Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen, Entomologie, 78: 113-131.

Desender, K., Dekoninck, W. & Maes, D. m.m.v. Crevecoeur, L., Dufrene, M., Jacobs, M., Lambrechts, J., Pollet, M., Staen, E. & Thys, N., 2008 (b). Een nieuwe verspreidingsatlas van de loopkevers en zandkloopkevers (Carabidae) in België. Rapporten van het Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek 2008 (INBO.R.2008.13). Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek & Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen, Brussel. 184 pp.

Löbl, I. & A. Smetana (eds.): Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera :

• Vol. 1: Archostemata-Myxophaga-Adephaga, 2003: 819 pp.
• Vol. 2: Hydrophiloidea-Staphylinoidea, 2004: 942 pp.
• Vol. 3: Scarabaeoidea, Scirtoidea, Dascilloidea, Buprestoidea and Byrrhoidea, 2006: 690 pp.
• Vol. 4: Elateroidea, Derodontoidea, Bostrichoidea, Lymexyloidea, Cleroidea and Cucujoidea, 2007: 935 pp.
• Vol. 5: Tenebrionoidea, 2008: 670 pp.
• Vol. 6: Chrysomeloidae, 2010: 924 pp.
• Vol. 7: Curculionoidea I, 2011: 373 pp.
• Vol. 8: Curculionoidea II, 2012: 700 pp.

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