Chart of Insects at Risk of Extinction

Insects play a central role in a variety of ecosystem processes, including: pollination, nutrient cycling and providing food sources for birds, mammals and amphibians. 80% of wild plants are estimated to depend on insects for pollination and 60% of birds rely on insects for food.

In 2017, a German study found that flying insect populations in Europe have declined by over 75% in just 27 years. The IUCN assesses that over 9% of European bee species face extinction. Pollinators in particular face global threats that are driving decline, including: intensive agricultural practices, loss of habitat, pesticide use, and climate change.

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Sources

Charts: International Union for the Conservation of Nature: Red List of Threatened Species; https://www.iucn.org/resources/conservation-tools/iucn-red-list-threatened-species;
Text:"Pollinators in Europe"; iucn.org/regions/europe/our-work/pollinators-europe; "More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas"; PLoS ONE. 12. 1-21. 10.1371/journal.pone.0185809.

Tags: animals at risk from extinction, plants at risk from extinction, mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes, insects, amphibians, fungi, pollinators, species at risk, insects at risk of extinction, global-ecology