title: A database on the distribution of butterflies (Lepidoptera) in northern Belgium (Flanders and the Brussels Capital Region).
abstract: In this data paper, we describe two datasets derived from two sources, which collectively represent the most complete overview of butterflies in Flanders and the Brussels Capital Region (northern Belgium). The first dataset (further referred to as the INBO dataset - http://doi.org/10.15468/njgbmh) contains 761,660 records of 70 species and is compiled by the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) in cooperation with the Butterfly working group of Natuurpunt (Vlinderwerkgroep). It is derived from the database Vlinderdatabank at the INBO, which consists of (historical) collection and literature data (1830-2001), for which all butterfly specimens in institutional and available personal collections were digitized and all entomological and other relevant publications were checked for butterfly distribution data. It also contains observations and monitoring data for the period 1991-2014. The latter type were collected by a (small) butterfly monitoring network where butterflies were recorded using a standardized protocol. The second dataset (further referred to as the Natuurpunt dataset - http://doi.org/10.15468/ezfbee) contains 612,934 records of 63 species and is derived from the database http://waarnemingen.be, hosted at the nature conservation NGO Natuurpunt in collaboration with Stichting Natuurinformatie. This dataset contains butterfly observations by volunteers (citizen scientists), mainly since 2008. Together, these datasets currently contain a total of 1,374,594 records, which are georeferenced using the centroid of their respective 5 × 5 km² Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cell. Both datasets are published as open data and are available through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Kliniekstraat 25, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: Natuurpunt Studie, Coxiestraat 11, B-2800 Mechelen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vanreusel
authors.affiliation: Natuurpunt Studie, Coxiestraat 11, B-2800 Mechelen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herremans
authors.affiliation: Vlinderwerkgroep Natuurpunt, Coxiestraat 11, B-2800 Mechelen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vantieghem
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Kliniekstraat 25, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brosens
authors.affiliation: Natuurpunt Studie, Coxiestraat 11, B-2800 Mechelen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gielen
authors.affiliation: Leefmilieu Brussel - BIM / Bruxelles Environnement - IBGE, Afd. Groene ruimten, Dpt. Biodiversiteit, Thurn & Taxis-site, Havenlaan 86C/3000 B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research Centre, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 4-5, bte L7.07.04, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Dyck
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Kliniekstraat 25, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Desmet
authors.affiliation: Vlinderwerkgroep Natuurpunt, Coxiestraat 11, B-2800 Mechelen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vlinderwerkgroep
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Natuurpunt
keywords: Butterflies; citizen science; collection; distribution; literature; monitoring; observations