
Bogatkowate (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Biebrzańskiego Parku Narodowego i jego otuliny
The aim of the study was to examine the distribution and various aspects of the biology of Buprestidae species, as well as to identify threats to individual species and indicate methods for their mitigation in the Biebrza Valley, particularly in Biebrza National Park (BbPN). The paper presents the results of research conducted between 1982 and 2025 (with breaks) in the Biebrza Valley (NE Poland). In the study area, 44 Buprestidae species were recorded (41 species in BbPN), representing approximately 47% of Poland’s fauna in this beetle family. The most widely distributed species in the Biebrza Valley are: Trachys minutus, Agrilus viridis, A. angustulus, A. betuleti, and A. sulcicollis. Among the Buprestidae present in the Biebrza Valley, eight very rare species (so-called „species of special concern”) have been identified: Agrilus guerini, A. kaluganus, A. nicolanus, Anthaxia manca, Habroloma nanum, Lamprodila decipiens, Poecilonota variolosa, and Trachys troglodytes. For 27 Buprestidae species, 25 host plants for their larvae have been determined, including 21 species (or genera) of trees and shrubs and four herbaceous plant species. Notably, new host plants have been discovered for the larvae of Dicerca alni – Padus avium, and Coraebus elatus – Potentilla erecta. Two species recorded in the Biebrza Valley are listed on the Red List of Threatened and Endangered Animals in Poland: Agrilus integerrimus in the Near Threatened (NT) category, and A. guerini in the Data Deficient (DD) category.
Dicerca alni is listed among the relict saproxylic beetles of Central Europe, classified as a relict sensu lato. In general, no major threats have been identified for saproxylic jewel beetle species. The main threats to species developing on herbaceous plants are: 1) climate instability and water scarcity in consecutive years, which endanger hygrophilous fauna such as Coraebus elatus, which develops on Comarum palustre; 2) large-scale mowing of vegetation with snow groomers, which destroys sensitive plants in low peatlands and consequently eliminates the developmental base for species associated with these plants (e.g., Coraebus elatus); 3) ecological succession (mainly the overgrowth of open areas with woody vegetation and increased shading), which threatens, among others, Coraebus elatus, Habroloma nanum, Trachys fragariae, T. scrobiculatus, and T. troglodytes; 4) isolation of small populations of a given species, as is the case, for example, with H. nanum.
Various active conservation measures have been proposed, such as mechanical removal of woody plants that shade valuable open areas, mowing, and grazing. The use of prescribed burning to maintain open areas has also been suggested. Monitoring several of the most valuable species representing different ecological habitats (Agrilus guerini, Coraebus elatus, Habroloma nanum, Poecilonota variolosa) has been recommended to assess the effectiveness of the conservation methods applied.
| DOI | 10.48538/lpb-2026-0004 |
|---|---|
| Source | Leśne Prace Badawcze / Forest Research Papers, 2026, Vol. 86: 42-61 |
| Print ISSN | |
| Online ISSN | 2082-8926 |
| Type of article | Original research article |
| Original title | Bogatkowate (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Biebrzańskiego Parku Narodowego i jego otuliny |
| Publisher | © 2026 Author(s). This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) |
| Date | 13 April 2026 |