Insects are the most diverse group of organisms in the world. They also play a vital role in the functioning of all ecosystems on earth. In fact, there are more than 900,000 different species of insects known. However, this is a conservative number. Scientists estimate that there may be more than 2 million or even 3 million species of insects. Insects play an important role in pollination of plants, decomposition of dead or decaying material, and production of items such as honey and beeswax. Unfortunately, many aspects of human life are harmful to insects’ native environments and can threaten the survival of these important creatures. As a result, many insects have unfortunately become rare and endangered.
The American graveyard beetle
The American graveyard beetle is also known by the scientific name Nicrophorus americanus . This beetle is an endangered species common across much of the United States. However, their decline means that they are now restricted to only a few regions, including the Midwest, Texas, and parts of New England. The American graveyard beetle has a shiny black body with bright orange-red markings. These predatory insects eat dead animals. In fact, they have chemical receptors in their antennae that allow them to search for freshly killed animals from miles away.
Hine’s emerald dragonfly
The Hine’s emerald dragonfly is a rare species of dragonfly that lives in the American states of Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as in the Canadian province of Ontario. These dragonflies have green eyes, a metallic green thorax, and creamy yellow lateral lines. They are considered one of the rarest dragonflies in North America. The species is constantly on the verge of extinction and is one of the most threatened dragonflies.
Tiger beetle
Tiger beetles are a family of beetles, many of which are endangered. Over time, as their native habitats have been destroyed, tiger beetles have become more rare. These insects are vulnerable because they often live only in sandy habitats. There they can catch prey and their larvae can dig burrows. Because of this, tiger beetles are good bio-indicators of environmental conditions and changes in quality. Many species of tiger beetles are declining. In fact, some of them are endangered.
The giant lacewing
The giant lacewing is a rare insect that can be found in some parts of North and Central America. This rare creature is a winged insect. It belongs to the most primitive group of living creatures of the order Neuroptera. When an insect identification scientist collected a giant lacewing in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2012, it was an incredible discovery. However, because the insect was initially misidentified, the true impact of the find was not realized until 2020. This specimen was the first recorded giant lacewing in eastern North America in 50 years. It was also the first record in Arkansas.
Karner’s blue butterfly
The Karner blue butterfly is a small and endangered species of butterfly. It lives as far west as Wisconsin and as far east as the Atlantic coast. Although it historically lived throughout its range, today it is restricted to only small parts of New Hampshire, New York, Wisconsin, and Ohio. This insect is one of the rarest butterflies in the world. This is partly because Karner butterflies need a special environment to live in. The larvae of the blue carnera can only feed on wild blue lupine, so without these plants, the carnera butterfly cannot survive. These butterflies have a small wingspan. They are only about an inch across. The color of their wings depends on the sex. Male butterflies have silver or dark blue wings with narrow black edges. Female butterflies have grayish-brown wings and irregular orange stripes inside a narrow black frame.