List of near threatened arthropods facts for kids

Near threatened (NT) species do not currently qualify for critically endangered (CR), endangered (EN) or vulnerable (VU), but are likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future, or are already close to qualifying.

Imagine a special list that tells us which animals need our help. This list is called the IUCN Red List. It helps us know which species are doing well and which ones are in trouble.

In July 2016, the IUCN said that 390 types of arthropods were "near threatened." This means they are not yet in serious danger, but they could be soon. About 4.1% of all arthropods that have been checked are on this list. Six types of arthropod subspecies are also near threatened.

No smaller groups (subpopulations) of arthropods have been checked by the IUCN. This article lists some of the arthropod species and subspecies that are near threatened.

What are Arthropods?

Arthropods are an amazing group of animals! They have an outside skeleton (called an exoskeleton), a body with segments, and jointed legs. This group includes insects, spiders, crabs, and many more creatures. They live all over the world, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains.

Near Threatened Arachnids

Arachnids are a group of arthropods that includes spiders, scorpions, ticks, and mites. They usually have eight legs and no antennae.

Some arachnids are near threatened. One well-known example is the Mexican redknee tarantula (Brachypelma smithi). This spider is famous for its bright red-orange "knees." It lives in Mexico and is popular as a pet, which has led to it being collected from the wild.

Other near threatened arachnids include:

Brignolia bowleri
Clubiona hitchinsi
Microbianor nigritarsus
Spinembolia clabnum
Karwar large burrowing spider (Thrigmopoeus truculentus)

Near Threatened Branchiopods

Branchiopods are small aquatic (water-living) crustaceans. They often have flattened, leaf-like legs used for swimming and filtering food.

Two examples of near threatened branchiopods are:

Mono Lake brine shrimp (Artemia monica)
California linderiella (Linderiella occidentalis)

Near Threatened Entognathans

Entognathans are tiny, wingless arthropods. They are similar to insects but have their mouthparts hidden inside their head.

Two species in this group are near threatened:

Blasconura batai
Lepidonella lecongkieti

Near Threatened Maxillopods

Maxillopods are a diverse group of crustaceans. They include barnacles, copepods, and other small sea creatures.

Some near threatened maxillopods are:

Attheyella yemanjae
Canthocamptus campaneri
Metacyclops campestris
Murunducaris juneae
Muscocyclops bidentatus
Muscocyclops therasiae
Ponticyclops boscoi
Thermocyclops parvus

Near Threatened Malacostracans

Malacostracans are a very large group of crustaceans. They include crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and crayfish.

Near Threatened Decapods

Decapods are a big order within malacostracans. They have ten legs (five pairs). There are 71 decapod species and six decapod subspecies listed as near threatened.

Near Threatened Crayfish

Many types of crayfish are near threatened. These freshwater crustaceans are important parts of their ecosystems.

Lilly pilly burrowing crayfish (Engaeus australis)
Mount Arthur burrowing crayfish (Engaeus orramakunna)
Western swamp crayfish (Gramastacus insolitus)
Big South Fork crayfish (Cambarus bouchardi)
Greenbrier cave crayfish (Cambarus nerterius)
Speckled burrowing crayfish (Fallicambarus danielae)
Pallid cave crayfish (Procambarus pallidus)

Near Threatened Crabs

Several crab species are also near threatened.

Miyazaki's crab (Geothelphusa miyazakii)
Potamon fluviatile
Potamon ibericum

Other Near Threatened Decapods

Cape Verde spiny lobster (Palinurus charlestoni)

Near Threatened Insects

Insects are the largest group of arthropods. They have six legs, a body divided into three parts (head, thorax, and abdomen), and usually wings. There are 301 insect species assessed as near threatened.

Near Threatened Hemiptera

Hemiptera includes true bugs, cicadas, and aphids.

Cassini periodical cicada (Magicicada cassini)
Decim periodical cicada (Magicicada septendecim)
Decula periodical cicada (Magicicada septendecula)

Near Threatened Orthoptera

Orthoptera includes grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids.

Southern Sardinian cricket (Acroneuroptila puddui)
Gran Canaria stick grasshopper (Acrostira tamarani)
California ground cricket (Neonemobius eurynotus)
Black-headed Jerusalem cricket (Stenopelmatus nigrocapitatus)

Near Threatened Hymenoptera

Hymenoptera includes ants, bees, and wasps.

Red wood ant (Formica rufa)
Antennal-waving wasp (Tachysphex pechumani)

Near Threatened Lepidoptera

Lepidoptera includes moths and butterflies. There are 62 species in this group that are near threatened.

Near Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies

Swallowtail butterflies are known for their beautiful patterns and often "tails" on their hindwings.

False Apollo (Archon apollinus)
Japanese luehdorfia (Luehdorfia japonica)
Chimaera birdwing (Ornithoptera chimaera)
Kilimanjaro swallowtail (Papilio sjoestedti)
Kaiserihind (Teinopalpus imperialis)
Borneo birdwing (Troides andromache)

Near Threatened Lycaenids

Lycaenids are often called "blues," "coppers," or "hairstreaks." They are usually small butterflies.

Large copper (Lycaena dispar)
Large blue (Phengaris arion)
Scarce large blue (Phengaris teleius)

Near Threatened Nymphalids

Nymphalids are also known as brush-footed butterflies. This is a very large family.

False fritillary (Anetia pantheratus)
False ringlet (Coenonympha oedippus)
Jamaican monarch (Danaus cleophile)
Woodland grayling (Hipparchia fagi)
Ceylon tree nymph (Idea iasonia)

Near Threatened Beetles

Beetles are the largest order of insects. They have hard wing covers. There are 56 beetle species assessed as near threatened.

Near Threatened Click Beetles

Click beetles are known for their ability to "click" and jump when they are on their backs.

Cardinal click beetle (Ampedus cardinalis)

Near Threatened Scarab Beetles

Scarabaeids include dung beetles, chafers, and rhinoceros beetles.

Phanaeus achilles

Other Near Threatened Beetles

Blue ground beetle (Carabus intricatus)
Hermit beetle (Osmoderma eremita)

Near Threatened Odonata

Odonata includes dragonflies and damselflies. There are 119 species in this group that are near threatened.

Near Threatened Dragonflies

Many types of dragonflies are near threatened.

Angola jewel (Chlorocypha crocea)
Tanganyika jewel (Platycypha pinheyi)
Yellow-sided jewel (Stenocypha jacksoni)
Diminutive clubtail (Gomphus diminutus)
Hodges' clubtail (Gomphus hodgesi)
Faded pincertail (Onychogomphus costae)
Appalachian snaketail (Ophiogomphus incurvatus)
Sombre goldenring (Cordulegaster bidentata)
Hine's emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana)
Ozark emerald (Somatochlora ozarkensis)
Red chaser (Libellula pontica)
Orange-spotted emerald (Oxygastra curtisii)
Relict Himalayan dragonfly (Epiophlebia laidlawi)

Near Threatened Damselflies

Damselflies are often smaller and more slender than dragonflies.

Katanga yellowwing (Allocnemis mitwabae)
Gambia riverjack (Mesocnemis dupuyi)
Southern damselfly (Coenagrion mercuriale)
Pygmy damselfly (Nehalennia speciosa)