List of critically endangered insects facts for kids
Insects are amazing creatures! But sadly, many of them are in big trouble. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) keeps a special list called the Red List. This list tells us which animals and plants are at risk of disappearing forever.
When an insect is called "critically endangered," it means it's facing an extremely high risk of becoming extinct in the wild. This is the most serious warning level. As of July 2016, 195 different kinds of insects were on this critically endangered list. This includes 46 species that might already be extinct. The IUCN also lists two insect subspecies as critically endangered.
Sometimes, there isn't enough information about an insect to know if it's in danger. These are called "data deficient" species. Even though we don't know their exact status, they often live in small areas or have small populations. This means they are likely to be threatened too. Scientists believe we should pay close attention to these insects, just in case.
This article lists some of the insect species and subspecies that are critically endangered. Some are even marked as "possibly extinct," meaning scientists haven't seen them in a long time.
Contents
- Critically Endangered Insects: A Closer Look
- See also
Critically Endangered Insects: A Closer Look
Earwigs
Earwigs are small insects known for the pincers at the end of their bodies. Several species of earwigs are critically endangered.
- Antisolabis seychellensis
- Chaetolabia fryeri
- Chaetospania gardineri
Plant Bugs (Hemiptera)
This group includes insects like plant-lice and mealybugs. They often feed on plant sap.
- Vesk's plant-louse (Acizzia veski)
- Banksia montana mealybug (Pseudococcus markharveyi)
- Barrett's plant-louse (Trioza barrettae)
Cockroaches (Blattodea)
Cockroaches are ancient insects. Some species are now critically endangered, with many possibly extinct.
- Balta crassivenosa (possibly extinct)
- Desroches cockroach (Delosia ornata)
- Holocompsa pusilla (possibly extinct)
- Hololeptoblatta pandanicola
- Sliferia similis (possibly extinct)
- Theganopteryx grisea (possibly extinct)
- Theganopteryx liturata (possibly extinct)
- Theganopteryx scotti (possibly extinct)
Grasshoppers and Crickets (Orthoptera)
The Orthoptera order includes grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. There are 72 species in this group that are critically endangered.
Monkey Grasshoppers (Euschmidtiids)
These grasshoppers are often found in specific regions. Many are now critically endangered.
- Morogoro monkey grasshopper (Chromomastax movogovodia) (possibly extinct)
- Mlingano monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia bidens) (possibly extinct)
- Burtt's monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia burtti) (possibly extinct)
- Dirsh's monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia dirshi) (possibly extinct)
- Phipps' monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia phippsi) (possibly extinct)
- Usambara monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia uvarovi)
- Dar-es-salaam monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia viridifasciata) (possibly extinct)
Crickets (Gryllidae)
Crickets are known for their chirping sounds. Several species are critically endangered.
- Gryllapterus tomentosus
- Metioche payendeei
- Metioche superbus
- Mahé boulder cricket (Phalangacris alluaudi)
- Seychellesia nitidula
Short-horned Grasshoppers (Acridids)
This family includes many common grasshoppers. Some are now in critical danger.
- Zanzibar giant forest grasshopper (Allaga ambigua) (possibly extinct)
- Usambara splendid grasshopper (Anischnansis burtti) (possibly extinct)
- Uluguru forest grasshopper (Burttia sylvatica)
- Adana grasshopper (Chorthippus antecessor)
- Bozdagh grasshopper (Chorthippus bozdaghi)
- Ilgaz mountain grasshopper (Chorthippus ilkazi)
- Epirus dancing grasshopper (Chorthippus lacustris)
- Uluguru mountain grasshopper (Cyphocerastis uluguruensis)
- Maspalomas bow-legged grasshopper (Dericorys minutus) (possibly extinct)
- Kilosa noble grasshopper (Eupropacris abbreviata) (possibly extinct)
- Gastrimargus immaculatus
- Myrmeleotettix ethicus
- Triandafilia mountain grasshopper (Oropodisma lagrecai)
- Willemse's mountain grasshopper (Oropodisma willemsei)
- East Usambara speckled grasshopper (Physocrobylus tessa)
- Schayera baiulus
Katydids (Tettigoniids)
Katydids are often called bush-crickets. Many species are critically endangered.
- Mount Coke false shieldback (Acilacris furcatus)
- Kristin's false shieldback (Acilacris kristinae)
- Santa Monica shieldback katydid (Aglaothorax longipennis)
- Black-spotted false shieldback (Aroegas nigroornatus)
- Pondo flat-necked shieldback (Arytropteris pondo)
- Fer's marbled bush-cricket (Eupholidoptera feri)
- Gran Canaria bush-cricket (Evergoderes cabrerai) (possibly extinct)
- Hemisaga elongata
- Middlekauf's shieldback katydid (Idiostatus middlekaufi)
- Ixalodectes flectocercus
- Nanodectes bulbicercus
- Pachysaga strobila
- Imperiled grass false shieldback (Paracilacris periclitatus)
- Paradecolya briseferi
- Giona Greek bush-cricket (Parnassiana gionica)
- Menalon Greek bush-cricket (Parnassiana menalon)
- Akarnanika Greek bush-cricket (Parnassiana nigromarginata)
- Panaitoliko Greek bush-cricket (Parnassiana panaetolikon)
- Parnassos Greek bush-cricket (Parnassiana parnassica)
- Zulu ambush katydid (Peringueyella zulu) (possibly extinct)
- Cyprian grey bush-cricket (Platycleis kibris)
- Calbali bush-cricket (Psorodonotus ebneri)
- Three-lobed bush-cricket (Rhacocleis trilobata) (possibly extinct)
- Rodriguesiophisis spinifera
- Sardinian grey bush-cricket (Sardoplatycleis galvagnii)
- Arboreal seedpod shieldback (Thoracistus arboreus)
- Peringuey's seedpod shieldback (Thoracistus peringueyi) (possibly extinct)
- Transkei shieldback (Transkeidectes multidentis)
Other Orthoptera Species
This section lists other critically endangered grasshoppers and crickets.
- Morogoro pretty grasshopper (Acanthothericles bicoloripes) (possibly extinct)
- Palma stick grasshopper (Acrostira euphorbiae)
- Tenerife stick grasshopper (Acrostira tenerifae)
- Arachnocephalus medvedevi
- Castleton's flightless katydid (Austrodontura castletoni)
- Cave katydid (Cedarbergeniana imperfecta)
- Mpwapwa silent grasshopper (Chromousambilla burtti) (possibly extinct)
- Seychelles crested groundhopper (Coptottigia cristata)
- Duplessis' agile katydid (Griffiniana duplessisae)
- Crau plain grasshopper (Prionotropis rhodanica)
- Seychelles shortwinged groundhopper (Procytettix fusiformis) (possibly extinct)
- Marais' lace-winged katydid (Pseudosaga maraisi)
- Pyrgacris descampsi
- Pyrgacris relictus
- Torreya pygmy grasshopper (Tettigidea empedonepia)
- San Torini cave-cricket (Troglophilus marinae)
Ants, Bees, and Wasps (Hymenoptera)
This group includes many important insects like ants, bees, and wasps. They play key roles in nature, like pollination.
- Adetomyrma venatrix
- Ammobates dusmeti
- Andrena labiatula (possibly extinct)
- Sri Lankan relict ant (Aneuretus simoni)
- Rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis)
- Franklin's bumblebee (Bombus franklini)
- Bombus rubriventris (possibly extinct)
- Suckley cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus suckleyi)
- Variable cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus variabilis)
- Megachile cypricola (possibly extinct)
- Nomada siciliensis (possibly extinct)
- Australian ant (Nothomyrmecia macrops)
Moths and Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Moths and butterflies are known for their beautiful wings and life cycles. Many are now critically endangered.
- Marion's plume moth (Agdistis marionae)
- Cotrell's daisy copper (Chrysoritis cotrelli)
- Prairie sphinx moth (Euproserpinus wiesti)
- Natterer's Longwing (Heliconius nattereri)
- David's tiger (Parantica davidi)
- Pieris wollastoni (possibly extinct)
- Bolland's blue (Polyommatus bollandi)
- Macedonian grayling (Pseudochazara cingovskii)
- Sinai baton blue (Pseudophilotes sinaicus)
Beetles (Coleoptera)
Beetles are the largest group of insects. Many different kinds of beetles are critically endangered.
- Coral pink sand dunes tiger beetle (Cicindela albissima)
- Colophon berrisfordi
- Colophon cassoni
- Colophon montisatris
- Colophon primosi
- Delta green ground beetle (Elaphrus viridis)
- Glaphyra bassettii
- Canterbury knobbled weevil (Hadramphus tuberculatus)
- Edith's fungus weevil (Homoeodera edithia)
- Click beetle-like fungus weevil (Homoeodera elateroides)
- Greater fungus weevil (Homoeodera major)
- Bark beetle-like fungus weevil (Homoeodera scolytoides)
- Hydrotarsus compunctus
- Meladema imbricata
- American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus)
- Cromwell chafer beetle (Prodontria lewisi)
- Propomacrus cypriacus
- Thorectes coloni
Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)
Dragonflies and damselflies are often found near water. Many species and subspecies are critically endangered.
Species
- Acanthagrion taxaense
- Allocnemis maccleeryi
- Amanipodagrion gilliesi
- Anisogomphus solitaris (possibly extinct)
- Sydney hawk (Austrocordulia leonardi)
- Boninagrion ezoin
- Boninthemis insularis
- Togo red jewel (Chlorocypha jejuna) (possibly extinct)
- Coenagriocnemis insularis
- Cryptophaea saukra
- Disparoneura ramajana (possibly extinct)
- Drepanosticta adami (possibly extinct)
- Drepanosticta austeni (possibly extinct)
- Merry shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta hilaris)
- Drepanosticta montana (possibly extinct)
- Drepanosticta submontana (possibly extinct)
- Echo maxima
- Smoky-winged threadtail (Elattoneura leucostigma)
- Elattoneura pluotae
- Elga newtonsantosi
- Enallagma maldivensis (possibly extinct)
- Erythrodiplax acantha
- Erythrodiplax nivea
- Sri Lanka grappletail (Heliogomphus ceylonicus)
- Heliogomphus lyratus (possibly extinct)
- Heliogomphus nietneri (possibly extinct)
- Heteragrion peregrinum (possibly extinct)
- Indolestes boninensis
- Libellula angelina
- Macromia flinti (possibly extinct)
- Atlantic helicopter (Mecistogaster pronoti)
- Crimson Hawaiian damselfly (Megalagrion leptodemas)
- Molokai damselfly (Megalagrion molokaiense) (possibly extinct)
- Flying earwig Hawaiian damselfly (Megalagrion nesiotes)
- Metaleptobasis gibbosa (possibly extinct)
- Micrathyria kleerekoperi
- Micromacromia miraculosa
- Minagrion ribeiroi
- Bizarre junglewatcher (Neodythemis takamandensis)
- Nesolestes nigeriensis
- Onychogomphus boudoti
- Mulanje damsel (Oreocnemis phoenix)
- Elusive skimmer (Orthetrum rubens) (possibly extinct)
- Palaemnema croceicauda
- Palaemnema edmondi (possibly extinct)
- Gambles's relic (Pentaphlebia gamblesi)
- Perissolestes remus (possibly extinct)
- Kenya jewel (Platycypha amboniensis)
- Proischnura polychromatica
- Proplatycnemis pembipes
- Protosticta gracilis
- Protosticta plicata
- Protosticta rozendalorum
- Pseudagrion mascagnii
- Greek red damsel (Pyrrhosoma elisabethae)
- Rhinocypha ogasawarensis
- Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi
- Emerald Sri Lanka spreadwing (Sinhalestes orientalis)
- Sympetrum evanescens
- Principe dropwing (Trithemis nigra)
- Streamertail (Zygonychidium gracile)
Subspecies
- Chlorogomphus brunneus keramensis
- Delphi cordulegaster (Cordulegaster helladica kastalia)
Other Critically Endangered Insects
This section lists other types of insects that are critically endangered.
- Scott's stick insect (Carausius scotti)
- Lord Howe Island stick insect (Dryococelus australis)
- Glyptotermes scotti
- Pygmy hog-sucking louse (Haematopinus oliveri)
- Procryptotermes fryeri
- Mount Donna Buang wingless stonefly (Riekoperla darlingtoni)
See also
- Lists of IUCN Red List critically endangered species
- List of least concern insects
- List of near threatened insects
- List of vulnerable insects
- List of endangered insects
- List of recently extinct insects
- List of data deficient insects
