Rode lijst van de saproxyle bladsprietkevers (Lucanidae, Cetoniidae en Dynastidae) in Vlaanderen

In this report, the red list status of the saproxyle scarab beetles for Flanders is assessed. We evaluate 19 species belonging to the stag beetles (Lucanidae: 6), rhinoceros beetles (Dynastidae: 1) and flower chafers (Cetoniidae: 12). Five species of these or currently in the category least concern, one near threatened, five endangered, two critically endangered and two regionally extinct. Four other species are only found in Wallonia or we are uncertain whether the species is present in Belgium. Within the list of threatened species, there is a comparable share between heat-loving species of half open habitat and shade tolerant species of closed forest and between flower visiting and non-flower visiting species. The most important Flemish hotspots are Voeren and the Sonian forest. The protection needs to focus on the protection and restoration of the habitat. Concerning the protection of dead wood in forest, a lot is already realized but the protection of old and hollow trees outside forests strongly limps behind. On the basis of this red list, six species can be added to the list of protected species in Flanders, namely Platycerus caraboides, Sinodendron cylindricum, Protaetia marmorata, Gnorimus nobilis, G. variabilis and Trichius fasciatus. Cetonia aurata can be deleted from the list of protected species.