The conservation status of New Zealand Coleoptera

Abstract

Forty-five New Zealand beetles (Coleoptera) in 37 families are classified as Threatened: 35 taxa in 10 families are Nationally Critical, seven taxa in five families are Nationally Endangered and three taxa in separate families are Nationally Vulnerable. A further 267 taxa in 31 families are At Risk, consisting mostly (91%) of Naturally Uncommon taxa. Fifty-two taxa in 13 families are Data Deficient and four taxa in three families are Extinct. The largest proportions of Threatened and At Risk species comprise Carabidae (respectively 42.2% and 6.7%) and Tenebrionidae (respectively 29.3% and 22.2%). Many of the threatened Coleoptera are large and flightless which may contribute towards their decline.