Insects Distribution

The Silphidae, with 183 described species, is a small family in the order Coleoptera. With most of its species occurring in North America, Europe, and Asia, there is no information about this group in Colombia, with the exception of research connected with forensic entomology. In order to evaluate the taxonomic status of this family at the national level in Colombia, a total of 690 in- dividuals from 15 entomological collections were revised. Three species belonging to two genera and two subfamilies are reported: Nicrophorus didymus, Oxelytrum cayennense and O. discicolle, and new State records are listed for these species. We propose a new synonymy, of O. nairoi with O. discicolle. Direct observation identified important morphological variation discriminating species, especially within the genus Oxelytrum, justifying the need to catalogue taxon-specific characteristics in more detail for species de- termination. We include an in-depth illustrated determination key for the Silphidae of Colombia, including their distribution maps. In addition, we highlight the need to increase the sampling effort for these species in critical areas with different carrion baits of various sizes.

This atlas features, in taxonomic chapters, all species of diurnal butterflies (superfamilies Papilionoidea and Hesperiodea), and burnet moths (family Zygaenidae) identified in South Bohemia (South Bohemia is a region in the south west of the Czech Republic neighboring  Austria and Germany).

Each species chart covers the distribution, bionomics, level of threat to, and management of the particular species. Integral parts of the atlas are lattice maps of species distributions (both current and historical) according to the Central European biodiversity mapping grid (quadrates 11.1 x 12 km). In the case of extant species, a photograph of the authentic biotope during the butterfly flight period is shown, as well as many photographs illustrating the particular species.

The results of this atlas originate from the analysis of more than 120 000 observational data (including literature sources and museum records). Historically, 148 species lived in South Bohemia (88% of the Czech Republic fauna). Presently 111 species are registered as extant. These results clearly indicate that butterflies represent an endangered insect taxon: 33 species are extinct, 58 species fall into one of the endangered category, of which 21 are critically endangered, 19 are endangered, and 18 are near threatened. Of the remaining species
41 are not considered endangered, 2 are expanding, 5 represent migrants, 4 are rare migrants (3 of them are current), and 5 are for various reasons unvalued.

The general chapters of this atlas summarize the history of butterfly research in South Bohemia; introduce the geography of South Bohemia from the butterfly fauna point of view. The book also tackles the causes of threat to the butterflies of the region, and the potentialities for their preservation and care.

The main causes of threats to butterflies and their decline in South Bohemia are the following: extensive changes in the landscape structure, the improper management of open grasslands, intensive grazing, reforestation, ingrowth of biotopes, extinction of meta-population structure, and intensive use of biocides and industrial chemistry in agriculture and forestry.
Possibilities for the improvement of this situation are addressed specifically in the species chapters and collectively in the general chapter “How to help butterflies”.