List of critically endangered insects

As of July 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed 195 critically endangered insect species, including 46 which are tagged as possibly extinct.[1][2] Of all evaluated insect species, 3.2% are listed as critically endangered. The IUCN also lists two insect subspecies as critically endangered.

1 extinct in the wild insect species (0.02%)195 critically endangered insect species (3.3%)343 endangered insect species (5.7%)608 vulnerable insect species (10%)301 near threatened insect species (5.0%)2843 least concern insect species (47%)1702 data deficient insect species (28%)
Insect species (IUCN, 2016.1)
  • 5993 extant species have been evaluated
  • 4291 of those are fully assessed[a]
  • 3144 are not threatened at present[b]
  • 1146 to 2848 are threatened[c]
  • 59 to 105 are extinct or extinct in the wild:
    • 58 extinct (EX) species[d]
    • 1 extinct in the wild (EW)
    • 46 possibly extinct [CR(PE)]
    • 0 possibly extinct in the wild [CR(PEW)]

Critically endangered (CR) species face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

No subpopulations of insects have been evaluated by the IUCN.

Additionally 1702 insect species (28% of those evaluated) are listed as data deficient, meaning there is insufficient information for a full assessment of conservation status. As these species typically have small distributions and/or populations, they are intrinsically likely to be threatened, according to the IUCN.[3] While the category data deficient indicates that no assessment of extinction risk has been made for the taxa, the IUCN notes that it may be appropriate to give them "the same degree of attention as threatened taxa, at least until their status can be assessed".[4]

This is a complete list of critically endangered insect species and subspecies as evaluated by the IUCN. Species considered possibly extinct by the IUCN are marked as such.

Earwigs

  • Antisolabis seychellensis
  • Chaetolabia fryeri
  • Chaetospania gardineri

Hemiptera

  • Vesk's plant-louse (Acizzia veski)
  • Banksia montana mealybug (Pseudococcus markharveyi)
  • Barrett's plant-louse (Trioza barrettae)

Blattodea

  • 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)

Orthoptera

There are 72 species in the order Orthoptera assessed as critically endangered.

Euschmidtiids

  • 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

  • Gryllapterus tomentosus
  • Metioche payendeei
  • Metioche superbus
  • Mahé boulder cricket (Phalangacris alluaudi)
  • Seychellesia nitidula

Acridids

  • 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

Tettigoniids

Other Orthoptera species

  • 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)

Hymenoptera

Lepidoptera

Moths and butterflies

Beetles

Odonata

Includes dragonflies and damselflies.

Species

Subspecies

  • Chlorogomphus brunneus keramensis
  • Delphi cordulegaster (Cordulegaster helladica kastalia)

Other insect species

See also

References