Dozens of British insects put on Red List over extinction fears

35 of 283 leaf beetle species found in the UK have been assessed as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable to extinction

Press Association

Thursday 12 February 2015 15.36 GMT

Dozens of species of insects have been put on a “Red List” over fears they could become extinct in Britain.

Research into two groups of scarce and threatened insects has led to 35 out of 283 species collectively known as leaf beetles being placed on the Red List as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable to extinction.

Three have already become extinct in Britain in the last 100 years, while seven are considered critically endangered and possibly extinct in Britain as they have not been seen since 1950, the analysis showed.

The second group of insects assessed, stoneflies, which are aquatic species found in rivers and streams, fared slightly better, according to the research by government agency Natural England in collaboration with invertebrate charity Buglife.

Out of 34 species found in Britain, one is extinct, one is vulnerable to extinction and another joins the red list as critically endangered.

Conservationists said both groups of insects are very sensitive to their environment, with leaf beetles often found only on certain plants in particular places while stonefly larvae are affected by types of pollution.

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