Zaciętka Cheilotoma musciformis (GOEZE, 1777) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) – reliktowy gatunek wymierający w Polsce

The Cheilotoma musciformis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a relic of the steppe entomofauna, currently a rare and endangered beetle occurring only in southern Poland. This beetle is listed in the Polish Red Data Book of Animals in the endangered category (EN). This study is an update of the distribution of this species in Poland, based on data from 2022-2023. In the 21st century, the range of this beetle has shrunk by about 30%, and the number of sites has decreased by an average of 50%. Currently, this beetle occurs only in the vicinity of the Nida Valley, Miechów Upland and in individual sites on the Proszowice Plateau and the Holy Cross Mountains. The disappearance of sites was previously associated with the overgrowth of grasslands and land use change, and currently, the negative effect has too intensive grazing as an active protection measure, which eliminates host plants. The Cheilotoma musciformis should currently be classified as critically endangered (CR). It is necessary to provide legal species protection for this beetle, designate reserve protection of all its sites, and effective protection of xerothermic grasslands that takes into account the needs of the entire plant and entomofauna steppe community.