Leaf beetle decline in Central Europe (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae s.l.)?*

Based on 168,674 records in the database ChryFaun changes in distribution and abundance of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae s.l.) in Central Europe were analysed from 1900 through 2009. From the first decade (1900–1909) to the last (2000–2009) the number of records per decade increased by factor 26, from 1513 to 41,269. The number of species increased from 395 in decade 1 to 606 in decade 10, but only 532 were reported in decade 11. The number of species with fewer records increased from 1990 although the total number of records increased continuously. Decrease and increase is found likewise in mono-, oligo-, and polyphagous species. Twenty-two species (3.0%) have not been reported since 1990, and 42 (5.8%) since 2000. 71% of all taxa reported between 2000 and 2009 had fewer records than in the immediately previous decade. These indications of decline correspond with numerous published studies on decline in other groups of arthropods. Analysis shows that data from private and public collections are useful for the retrospective analysis of numbers and distributions of leaf beetles (and other organisms)