Species conservation in the United States has historically focused on vertebrate and plant taxa with relatively little emphasis on insect conservation. Insect conservation has been neglected due to a lack of knowledge and expertise, the sheer magnitude of insect diversity, and low public valuation of insects. We analyzed taxonomic and geographic patterns of insect conservation in the United States by examining state and federal endangered species lists in early 2003. Insects constituted approximately nine percent of endangered animal species on the United States Fish and Wildlife Service list. Six insect orders were represented on this list: four orders with only one representative (Diptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, and Odonata) and two orders containing 92% of listed insect species (Lepidoptera and Coleoptera). California and Texas had the most federally listed insect species. States without federally listed insect species were concentrated in the West and Southeast. States with the highest number of insect species listed under state legislation were concentrated in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. Three additional insect orders (Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, and Homoptera) had representatives that were protected under state endangered species legislation. Thirteen states had no state or federally protected insect species. These states were primarily grouped in the Rocky Mountain West and in the Southeast. Insect conservation in the United States could be improved by protecting insect species that may serve as umbrella, flagship, and indicator species. Also, more cooperation is needed between state and federal agencies to fill in large geographic gaps in insect conservation.
Keywords: insect conservation, endangered species
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