List of data deficient insects facts for kids
Imagine a huge list of animals and plants that tells us how they're doing. That's the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List! It helps us know which species are in trouble. But sometimes, we just don't have enough information about a species to know if it's safe or in danger. These are called 'data deficient' species.
In July 2016, the IUCN looked at many insects. They found that about 28% of all the insects they checked were 'data deficient'! That's 1702 different kinds of insects we don't know enough about. This means we need to do more research to understand how to protect them. No smaller groups of insects have been fully checked by the IUCN yet.
Contents
- Insects We Don't Know Enough About
- Blattodea: Cockroaches and Termites
- Orthoptera: Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Katydids
- Hymenoptera: Bees, Wasps, and Ants
- Mantodea: Mantises
- Lepidoptera: Moths and Butterflies
- Coleoptera: Beetles
- Odonata: Dragonflies and Damselflies
- Platystictids: Shadowdamsels
- Chlorogomphids: Sundragons
- Argiolestids: Flatwings
- Chlorocyphids: Jewels
- Isostictids: Pin Damselflies
- Platycnemidids: Featherlegs and Threadtails
- Megapodagrionids: Flatwings and Foresters
- Gomphids: Clubtails
- Cordulegastrids: Spiketails
- Corduliids: Emeralds and Baskettails
- Calopterygids: Broad-winged Damselflies
- Coenagrionids: Narrow-winged Damselflies
- Euphaeids: Gossamerwings
- Macromiids: Cruisers
- Lestids: Spreadwings
- Aeshnids: Darners
- Libellulids: Skimmers and Pondhawks
- Polythorids: Bannerwings
- Other Odonata Species
- See also
Insects We Don't Know Enough About
This article shares some examples of insect species that are listed as 'data deficient' by the IUCN.
Blattodea: Cockroaches and Termites
The order Blattodea includes cockroaches and termites. We don't have enough information on species like:
- Miriamrothschildia zonatus
Orthoptera: Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Katydids
There are 50 species in the Orthoptera group that we don't have enough data on. This group includes many familiar hopping insects.
Acridids: Grasshoppers
Some grasshoppers on the 'data deficient' list include:
- South-east African burrowing grasshopper (Acrotylus mossambicus)
- Piedmont banded grasshopper (Arcyptera alzonai)
Tettigoniids: Bush-crickets and Katydids
Here are a couple of bush-crickets and katydids that need more study:
- Brown's shieldback (Alfredectes browni)
- Charpentier's black-winged clonia (Clonia charpentieri)
Phaneropterids: Leaf Katydids
Many leaf katydids are also on the list, such as:
- Sopatas' black-kneed katydid (Aprosphylus sopatarum)
- Elegant winter katydid (Brinckiella elegans)
Other Orthoptera Species
Other interesting Orthoptera species that are data deficient include:
- Kaikoura weta (Deinacrida parva)
- Prairie mole cricket (Gryllotalpa major)
Hymenoptera: Bees, Wasps, and Ants
There are 316 species of Hymenoptera that are 'data deficient'. This order includes many important pollinators and social insects.
Colletids: Plasterer Bees
Some plasterer bees that need more data are:
- Colletes dinizi
- Hylaeus alpinus
Melittids: Melittid Bees
Examples of melittid bees on the list include:
- Dasypoda iberica
- Melitta iberica
Apids: Honey Bees and Bumblebees
Many bees in the Apidae family are data deficient, including:
- Ashton's cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus bohemicus)
- Great yellow bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus)
- Polar bumble bee (Bombus polaris)
Halictids: Sweat Bees
Some sweat bees that need more research are:
- Dufourea iris
- Halictus centaureae
Andrenids: Mining Bees
Mining bees like these are also data deficient:
- Tawny mining bee (Andrena fulva)
- Andrena montana
Megachilids: Leafcutter and Mason Bees
Examples of leafcutter and mason bees on the list include:
- Megachile alpicola
- Osmia ariadne
Mantodea: Mantises
Mantises are fascinating predators. Some species that need more data are:
- Betancurian dwarf mantis (Pseudoyersinia betancuriae)
- Hairy legged dwarf mantis (Pseudoyersinia pilipes)
Lepidoptera: Moths and Butterflies
Lepidoptera includes all moths and butterflies. There are 87 species in this order that are 'data deficient'.
Pyralids: Snout Moths
Some snout moths that need more study are:
- ʻOhe hedyleptan moth (Omiodes asaphombra)
- Oahu Swamp hedyleptan moth (Omiodes epicentra)
Papilionidae: Swallowtail Butterflies
Beautiful swallowtail butterflies on the list include:
- Mansfield's three-tailed swallowtail (Bhutanitis mansfieldi)
- African giant swallowtail (Papilio antimachus)
Lycaenids: Blues, Coppers, and Hairstreaks
Many small, colorful butterflies are data deficient, such as:
- Mullin's copper (Aloeides mullini)
- Cilician blue (Polyommatus cilicius)
Nymphalids: Brush-footed Butterflies
Examples of brush-footed butterflies that need more data are:
- Dark giant grayling (Berberia lambessanus)
- Scarce fritillary (Euphydryas maturna)
Hesperiidae: Skippers
Skippers are like a mix between moths and butterflies. Some data deficient ones include:
- Algerian grizzled skipper (Muschampia leuzeae)
- Barbary skipper (Muschampia mohammed)
Other Lepidoptera Species
Other interesting moths and butterflies that are data deficient:
- Spanish moon moth (Graellsia isabelae)
- Willowherb hawkmoth (Proserpinus proserpina)
Coleoptera: Beetles
There are 377 beetle species that are 'data deficient'. Beetles are the largest group of insects!
Geotrupids: Earth-boring Dung Beetles
Some earth-boring dung beetles that need more study are:
- Allotrypes mandibularis
- Thorectes latus
Cerambycidae: Longhorn Beetles
Longhorn beetles with long antennae on the list include:
- Axinopalpis barbarae
- Purpuricenus graecus
Elateridae: Click Beetles
Click beetles, known for their "clicking" sound, that are data deficient include:
- Agriotes passosi
- Ampedus balcanicus
Erotylids: Pleasing Fungus Beetles
Examples of pleasing fungus beetles on the list are:
- Triplax andreinii
- Triplax pygmaea
Scarabaeidae: Scarab Beetles
Many scarab beetles, including dung beetles and chafers, are data deficient. Some examples are:
- Canthon brunnipennis
- Copris amabilis
- Onthophagus adelaidae
Other Beetle Species
Other beetles that need more data include:
- Protaetia sardea
- Tenebroides fuscus
Odonata: Dragonflies and Damselflies
Odonata includes dragonflies and damselflies. There are 868 species in this order that are 'data deficient'.
Platystictids: Shadowdamsels
Some shadowdamsels that need more research are:
- Drepanosticta attala
- Wall's shadowdamsel (Drepanosticta walli)
Chlorogomphids: Sundragons
Examples of sudragons on the list include:
- Chlorogomphus magnificus
- Chloropetalia owadai
Argiolestids: Flatwings
Flatwings that are data deficient include:
- Barrington flatwing (Austroargiolestes brookhousei)
- Turquoise flatwing (Griseargiolestes bucki)
Chlorocyphids: Jewels
Colorful jewel damselflies on the list include:
- Congo red jewel (Chlorocypha ghesquierei)
- Lucifer jewel (Platycypha eliseva)
Isostictids: Pin Damselflies
Some pin damselflies that need more data are:
- Queensland pin (Eurysticta reevesi)
- Selysioneura arboricola
Platycnemidids: Featherlegs and Threadtails
Many featherlegs and threadtails are data deficient, such as:
- Gabon yellowwing (Allocnemis interrupta)
- Phantom featherleg (Platycnemis phasmovolans)
Megapodagrionids: Flatwings and Foresters
Examples of flatwings and foresters on the list include:
- Heteragrion dorsale
- Philogenia berenice
Gomphids: Clubtails
Many clubtail dragonflies are data deficient, including:
- Murray river hunter (Austrogomphus angelorum)
- Tamaulipan clubtail (Gomphus gonzalezi)
Cordulegastrids: Spiketails
Some spiketail dragonflies that need more study are:
- Anotogaster basalis
- Cordulegaster lunifera
Corduliids: Emeralds and Baskettails
Emeralds and baskettails on the list include:
- Broad-tailed shadowdragon (Neurocordulia michaeli)
- Treeline emerald (Somatochlora sahlbergi)
Calopterygids: Broad-winged Damselflies
Examples of broad-winged damselflies that are data deficient are:
- Calopteryx laosica
- Smokewing (Sapho fumosa)
Coenagrionids: Narrow-winged Damselflies
Many narrow-winged damselflies are data deficient, such as:
- Gabon slim (Aciagrion balachowskyi)
- Jamaican bromeliad damsel (Diceratobasis macrogaster)
Euphaeids: Gossamerwings
Some gossamerwings that need more research are:
- Anisopleura trulla
- Bayadera fasciata
Macromiids: Cruisers
Cruiser dragonflies on the list include:
- Rainforest cruiser (Macromia viridescens)
- Western double-spined cruiser (Phyllomacromia lamottei)
Lestids: Spreadwings
Examples of spreadwing damselflies that are data deficient are:
- Small reedling (Indolestes alleni)
- Algerian spreadwing (Lestes numidicus)
Aeshnids: Darners
Many darner dragonflies are data deficient, such as:
- Williamson's darner (Aeshna williamsoniana)
- Zambesi hawker (Pinheyschna moori)
Libellulids: Skimmers and Pondhawks
Skimmers and pondhawks on the list include:
- Problematic flasher (Aethiothemis gamblesi)
- Bromeliad dragonlet (Erythrodiplax bromeliicola)
- St. Helena darter (Sympetrum dilatatum)
Polythorids: Bannerwings
Examples of bannerwings that are data deficient are:
- Cora chiribiquete
- Euthore inlactea
Other Odonata Species
Other dragonflies and damselflies that need more data include:
- Montane relict damsel (Amphipteryx agrioides)
- Spotwing (Neopetalia punctata)
See also
