List of vulnerable arthropods facts for kids

Did you know that many amazing creatures are in danger of disappearing forever? The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) keeps a special list called the Red List. This list helps us understand which animals and plants need our help. In July 2016, the IUCN reported that 1080 kinds of arthropods were considered "vulnerable." Arthropods are a huge group of animals with exoskeletons, like insects, spiders, and crabs.

Being "vulnerable" means these species face a high risk of dying out in the wild. It's a serious warning! The IUCN also lists 29 types of arthropod subspecies (smaller groups within a species) as vulnerable. When a species is vulnerable, it means scientists have found strong evidence that it's in trouble. Even more critically endangered species also meet these criteria, but they are in even greater danger. All these groups – vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered – are called "threatened species."

Sometimes, there isn't enough information to fully check on a species. These are called "data deficient." About 2875 arthropod species (30% of those checked) are in this group. The IUCN believes these species might also be in danger, especially if they live in small areas or have small populations. They need our attention too, until we can learn more about them. This article lists some of the vulnerable arthropod species and subspecies.

Seed Shrimps (Ostracoda)

Seed shrimps are tiny crustaceans that look a bit like small seeds. They live in water. There are 9 species of seed shrimps listed as vulnerable.

Arachnids

Arachnids include spiders, scorpions, and other similar creatures. There are 47 arachnid species that are considered vulnerable.

Spiders

Many spider species are vulnerable. Some examples include the Great raft spider (Dolomedes plantarius) and the Dolloff cave spider (Meta dolloff). These spiders need special habitats to survive.

Other Arachnid Species

Besides spiders, other arachnids are also vulnerable. This group includes animals like the Melones cave harvestman (Banksula melones) and the Seychelles giant scorpion (Chiromachus ochropus).

Branchiopods

Branchiopods are a group of small crustaceans, often found in freshwater. There are 21 species of branchiopods assessed as vulnerable. One example is the Vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi).

Millipedes (Diplopoda)

Millipedes are long, many-legged creatures that usually live in damp places. There are 12 millipede species listed as vulnerable. Examples include the Solitary black millipede (Doratogonus avius) and the Bearded black millipede (Doratogonus barbatus).

Maxillopods

Maxillopods are a diverse group of crustaceans, including barnacles and copepods. There are 71 species in this group that are vulnerable.

Calanoids

Calanoids are a type of small crustacean, often found in plankton. There are 47 vulnerable species in this group.

Diaptomids

Diaptomids are a family of calanoid copepods. Many species in this family are vulnerable.

Centropagids

Centropagids are another family of calanoid copepods. There are 9 vulnerable species in this group.

Temorids

Only one temorid species, Epischura baikalensis, is listed as vulnerable.

Cyclopoids

Cyclopoids are small freshwater crustaceans. There are 6 vulnerable species in this group.

Harpacticoids

Harpacticoids are tiny crustaceans found in various water environments. There are 18 vulnerable species in this group.

Darcythompsoniids

One species, Leptocaris stromatolicolus, is vulnerable.

Ameirids

Two species of ameirids are vulnerable.

Canthocamptids

Many canthocamptids, a family of copepods, are vulnerable. There are 15 species listed.

Malacostracans

Malacostracans are a very large group of crustaceans. It includes many familiar animals like crabs, lobsters, crayfish, and shrimp. There are 307 malacostracan species and 14 subspecies that are vulnerable.

Isopods

Isopods are a diverse group, including woodlice. Many isopods that live in caves are vulnerable. Examples include the Madison cave isopod (Antrolana lira) and the Bat cave isopod (Caecidotea macropoda). There are 23 vulnerable species and 3 subspecies.

Amphipods

Amphipods are small crustaceans often found in water. There are 56 amphipod species and 4 subspecies listed as vulnerable.

Hadziids

One subspecies, Hadzia fragilis stochi, is vulnerable.

Paramelitids

One species, Paramelita flexa, is vulnerable.

Gammarids

Gammarids are a common type of amphipod. The Pecos amphipod (Gammarus pecos) is one of the vulnerable species.

Crangonyctids

Many crangonyctids, especially those living in caves, are vulnerable. Examples include the Central Missouri cave amphipod (Allocrangonyx hubrichti) and the Florida cave amphipod (Crangonyx grandimanus). There are 41 vulnerable species.

Niphargids

Niphargids are another group of amphipods, often found in underground waters. There are 11 vulnerable species and 3 subspecies.

Anaspidaceans

Anaspidaceans are small, ancient crustaceans. Examples include Hickman's pygmy mountain shrimp (Allanaspides hickmani) and the Great Lake shrimp (Paranaspides lacustris). There are 4 vulnerable species.

Decapods

Decapods are a large group that includes crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. There are 224 decapod species and 7 subspecies assessed as vulnerable.

Parastacids

Parastacids are freshwater crayfish. The Common yabby (Cherax destructor) and the Glenelg river crayfish (Euastacus bispinosus) are examples of vulnerable species. There are 12 vulnerable species.

Gecarcinucids

Gecarcinucids are freshwater crabs. Johnson's freshwater crab (Irmengardia johnsoni) is one of the vulnerable species. There are 32 vulnerable species.

Atyids

Atyids are a family of freshwater shrimp. There are 57 vulnerable species in this group.

Cambarids

Cambarids are North American freshwater crayfish. Many species, like the Alabama cave crayfish (Cambarus jonesi) and the Tennessee cave crayfish (Orconectes incomptus), are vulnerable. There are 19 vulnerable species and 7 subspecies.

Potamonautids

Potamonautids are African freshwater crabs. The Blue river crab (Potamonautes lividus) is an example of a vulnerable species. There are 16 vulnerable species.

Pseudothelphusids

Pseudothelphusids are a family of freshwater crabs found in Central and South America. There are 25 vulnerable species.

Potamids

Potamids are another family of freshwater crabs, found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Pingtung crab (Geothelphusa pingtung) is a vulnerable species. There are 37 vulnerable species.

Palaemonids

Palaemonids are a family of shrimp. The Kentucky cave shrimp (Palaemonias ganteri) is a vulnerable species. There are 12 vulnerable species.

Trichodactylids

Trichodactylids are freshwater crabs from Central and South America. There are 3 vulnerable species.

Other Decapod Species

Other decapods listed as vulnerable include the Noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) and the Common spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas). There are 3 vulnerable species.

Insects (Insecta)

Insects are the largest group of arthropods. There are 608 insect species and 15 subspecies assessed as vulnerable.

Flies (Diptera)

Only a few fly species are listed as vulnerable, such as Belkin's dune tabanid fly (Brennania belkini) and the Tasmanian torrent midge (Edwardsina tasmaniensis). There are 3 vulnerable species.

Stoneflies (Plecoptera)

Stoneflies are insects that live near water. The Otway stonefly (Eusthenia nothofagi) and the Mount Kosciusko wingless stonefly (Leptoperla cacuminis) are vulnerable. There are 2 vulnerable species.

Notoptera

Only one species, the Mount St Helens' grylloblattid (Grylloblatta chirurgica), is vulnerable in this order.

Orthoptera

Orthoptera includes grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. There are 137 species in this order assessed as vulnerable.

Crickets (Gryllidae)

Many cave-dwelling crickets are vulnerable, like Howarth's cave cricket (Caconemobius howarthi). There are 10 vulnerable species.

Acridids

Acridids are a family of grasshoppers. The Usambara slant-faced grasshopper (Acrida bara) and the Michigan bog grasshopper (Appalachia arcana) are examples of vulnerable species. There are 31 vulnerable species.

Stenopelmatids

Stenopelmatids include Jerusalem crickets and wetas. The Poor knights weta (Deinacrida fallai) and the Wetapunga (Deinacrida heteracantha) are vulnerable. There are 7 vulnerable species.

Tettigoniids

Tettigoniids are often called bush-crickets or katydids. The Richtersveld katydid (Africariola longicauda) and the Sierra Nevadan saddle bush-cricket (Baetica ustulata) are vulnerable. There are 51 vulnerable species.

Rhaphidophorids

Rhaphidophorids include cave crickets and sand treader crickets. Many cave-dwelling species like the Kalymnos cave-cricket (Dolichopoda calidnae) are vulnerable. There are 19 vulnerable species.

Phaneropterids

Phaneropterids are a family of katydids. The Mute winter katydid (Brinckiella aptera) is a vulnerable species. There are 11 vulnerable species.

Other Orthoptera Species

Other vulnerable Orthoptera include the Canarian tiny cricket (Cycloptiloides canariensis) and the Desert monkey grasshopper (Psychomastax deserticola). There are 7 vulnerable species.

Hymenoptera

Hymenoptera includes ants, bees, and wasps. There are 155 species in this order assessed as vulnerable.

Ants (Formicidae)

Many ant species are vulnerable, especially those with unique lifestyles like slavemaker ants. Ravoux's slavemaker ant (Epimyrma ravouxi) is an example. There are 129 vulnerable species.

Colletids

Colletids are a family of bees. There are 3 vulnerable species.

Melittids

Melittids are a small family of bees. There are 2 vulnerable species.

Apids

Apids include bumblebees and honeybees. Several bumblebee species, like the Obscure bumble bee (Bombus caliginosus) and the American bumblebee (Bombus pensylvanicus), are vulnerable. There are 10 vulnerable species.

Megachilids

Only one megachilid, Wallace's giant bee (Megachile pluto), is listed as vulnerable.

Mantises (Mantodea)

Mantises are predatory insects. The Delicate dwarf mantis (Ameles gracilis) is a vulnerable species. There are 3 vulnerable species.

Moths and Butterflies (Lepidoptera)

Lepidoptera is a large order of insects. There are 128 species and 10 subspecies assessed as vulnerable.

Lasiocampids

The Small lappet moth (Phyllodesma ilicifolia) is a vulnerable species.

Swallowtail Butterflies (Papilionidae)

Many beautiful swallowtail butterflies are vulnerable, such as the Zetides swallowtail (Battus zetides) and the Apollo (Parnassius apollo). There are 28 vulnerable species.

Lycaenids

Lycaenids are often called blues, coppers, or hairstreaks. The Hermes copper (Lycaena hermes) and the Sierra Nevada blue (Polyommatus golgus) are vulnerable. There are 60 vulnerable species.

Nymphalids

Nymphalids are a large family of butterflies, including brush-footed butterflies. The Mauritian friar (Amauris phoedon) and the Uncompahgre fritillary (Boloria acrocnema) are vulnerable. There are 27 vulnerable species and 10 subspecies.

Skippers (Hesperiidae)

Skippers are small, fast-flying butterflies. The Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae) is a vulnerable species. There are 2 vulnerable species.

Pierids

Pierids include whites and sulphurs. The Canary brimstone (Gonepteryx cleobule) is a vulnerable species. There are 3 vulnerable species.

Beetles (Coleoptera)

Beetles are the largest order of insects. There are 50 beetle species assessed as vulnerable.

Dytiscids

Dytiscids are diving beetles. There are 6 vulnerable species.

Longhorn Beetles (Cerambycidae)

Longhorn beetles are known for their long antennae. The Cerambyx longicorn (Cerambyx cerdo) and the Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina) are vulnerable. There are 8 vulnerable species.

Scarabaeids

Scarabaeids include dung beetles and chafers. The Ciervo scarab beetle (Aegialia concinna) and the Crescent dune scarab beetle (Aegialia crescenta) are vulnerable. There are 16 vulnerable species.

Other Beetle Species

Other vulnerable beetles include the Blind cave beetle (Glacicavicola bathysciodes) and the Frigate Island giant tenebrionid beetle (Polposipus herculeanus). There are 20 vulnerable species.

Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)

Odonata includes dragonflies and damselflies. There are 129 species and 5 subspecies in this order assessed as vulnerable.

Chlorogomphids

Chlorogomphids are a family of dragonflies. There are 6 vulnerable species.

Chlorocyphids

Chlorocyphids are jewel damselflies. The Banded jewel (Africocypha centripunctata) is a vulnerable species. There are 7 vulnerable species.

Platycnemidids

Platycnemidids are a family of damselflies. The Yellow-fronted threadtail (Elattoneura dorsalis) is a vulnerable species. There are 12 vulnerable species.

Megapodagrionids

Megapodagrionids are a family of damselflies. The Cuban hypolestes (Hypolestes trinitatis) and the Zoe waterfall damsel (Paraphlebia zoe) are vulnerable. There are 7 vulnerable species.

Gomphids

Gomphids are clubtail dragonflies. The Top end dragon (Antipodogomphus dentosus) and the Tennessee clubtail (Gomphus sandrius) are vulnerable. There are 20 vulnerable species and 1 subspecies.

Coenagrionids

Coenagrionids are a large family of damselflies. The Sabino dancer (Argia sabino) and the San Francisco forktail (Ischnura gemina) are vulnerable. Many Hawaiian damselflies, like the Oahu damselfly (Megalagrion oahuense), are also vulnerable. There are 28 vulnerable species and 4 subspecies.

Aeshnids

Aeshnids are hawker or darner dragonflies. The Thylacine darner (Acanthaeschna victoria) is a vulnerable species. There are 7 vulnerable species.

Libellulids

Libellulids are skimmer dragonflies. The Purple skimmer (Libellula jesseana) and the Mangrove skimmer (Orthetrum poecilops) are vulnerable. There are 10 vulnerable species.

Other Odonata Species

Other vulnerable Odonata include the Elegant malachite (Chlorolestes elegans) and the Splendid cruiser (Macromia splendens). There are 30 vulnerable species.

Other Arthropod Species

This section includes other types of arthropods that are vulnerable. The Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) and the Serpent Island centipede (Scolopendra abnormis) are examples. There are 4 vulnerable species.

See also

• Lists of IUCN Red List vulnerable species
• List of endangered arthropods
• List of critically endangered arthropods