United States Fish and Wildlife Service list of threatened and endangered arthropods facts for kids

Arthropods are amazing creatures with exoskeletons, like insects, spiders, and crabs! This article is about the arthropods in the United States that are in danger. They are protected by a special law called the Endangered Species Act. This law helps save animals and plants that might disappear forever.

Scientists keep track of these animals and give them different "status codes" to show how much danger they are in:

• E - Endangered: This means an animal or plant is in danger of extinction. Extinction means there are no more of that kind of animal left anywhere in the world.
• T - Threatened: This means an animal or plant is likely to become endangered very soon if we don't help them.
• SAE or SAT - Similar Appearance: Sometimes, a species that looks very much like an endangered or threatened one is also protected. This helps make sure the truly endangered species are not accidentally harmed because they look similar to a more common one.

Protecting Tiny Creatures: Endangered Arthropods

Arthropods are a huge group of animals. They have a hard outer shell called an exoskeleton, bodies divided into segments, and jointed legs. This group includes insects (like butterflies and beetles), arachnids (like spiders and scorpions), and crustaceans (like crabs and shrimp). They are found almost everywhere on Earth, from deep caves to high mountains.

Why are Some Arthropods in Danger?

Many things can put arthropods in danger. One big reason is habitat loss. This happens when their homes, like forests, wetlands, or caves, are destroyed or changed by human activities. Pollution, climate change, and even new species moving into their areas can also threaten them. Because many arthropods are small, changes to their environment can have a huge impact on them.

How Do We Protect Them?

The Endangered Species Act is a law in the United States that helps protect animals and plants that are at risk. When a species is listed as endangered or threatened, it means that special efforts are made to protect its habitat and help its population grow. This can include setting aside land, cleaning up pollution, and even breeding programs to increase their numbers.

Meet Some Endangered Arthropods

Many different kinds of arthropods are on the endangered or threatened list. Here are just a few examples:

Spiders and Other Arachnids

• The Kauai cave wolf spider (Adelocosa anops) lives only in dark caves on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It's unique because it doesn't have eyes!
• The Spruce-fir moss spider (Microhexura montivaga) is a tiny spider found in moss mats in high-altitude forests in North Carolina and Tennessee. Its home is threatened by climate change and air pollution.
• Several cave-dwelling spiders and harvestmen in Texas, like the Tooth Cave spider (Leptoneta myopica), are endangered. They live in very specific cave systems that are at risk from development.

Crustaceans in Trouble

• The Conservancy fairy shrimp (Branchinecta conservatio) and San Diego fairy shrimp (Branchinecta sandiegonensis) are tiny crustaceans that live in temporary pools of water called vernal pools in California. These pools dry up and refill, and their habitats are disappearing.
• The Alabama cave shrimp (Palaemonias alabamae) and Kentucky cave shrimp (Palaemonias ganteri) live in underground caves and depend on clean groundwater. Pollution and changes to water flow can harm them.
• The Shasta crayfish (Pacifastacus fortis) is a freshwater crayfish found only in a small area of California. It's threatened by habitat loss and competition from other crayfish species.

Insects Facing Challenges

• The Lange's metalmark butterfly (Apodemia mormo langei) lives in a very small area in California and depends on a specific plant for food.
• The Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) is a small, beautiful butterfly found in Florida. Its numbers have dropped dramatically due to habitat loss and pesticides.
• The American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) is a large, colorful beetle that helps clean up the environment by burying dead animals. It used to be found across much of the eastern U.S. but is now endangered.
• The Hine's emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana) is a large, green dragonfly found in wetlands in the Midwest U.S. Its habitat is threatened by development and changes in water quality.
• The Karner blue butterfly (Plebejus melissa samuelis) is a small, bright blue butterfly found in parts of the U.S. and Canada. It relies on the wild lupine plant for its survival.
• The Queen Alexandra's birdwing (Troides alexandrae) is the largest butterfly in the world, found only in Papua New Guinea. It is endangered due to habitat destruction.

These are just a few examples of the many amazing arthropods that need our help to survive. Protecting them means protecting their habitats, which benefits many other plants and animals too!