List of recently extinct insects
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As of July 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists 58 extinct species, 46 possibly extinct species, and one species of insect which is extinct in the wild.[1][2]
- Extinct in the wild (EW): 1 species
- Critically endangered (CR): 520 species
- Endangered (EN): 1,132 species
- Vulnerable (VU): 1,082 species
- Near threatened (NT, LR/cd): 897 species
- Least concern (LC): 6,802 species
- Data deficient (DD): 3,255 species
Insect species (IUCN, 2025-2)
- 13,696 extant species have been evaluated
- 10,441 of those are fully assessed[a]
- 7,699 are not threatened at present[b]
- 2,742 to 5,997 are threatened[c]
- 59 to 175 are extinct or extinct in the wild:
- 58 extinct (EX) species[d]
- 1 extinct in the wild (EW)
- 116 possibly extinct [CR(PE)]
- 0 possibly extinct in the wild [CR(PEW)]
- excludes data deficient evaluations.
- NT, LR/cd, LC.
- Threatened comprises CR, EN and VU. Upper estimate additionally includes DD.
- Chart omits extinct (EX) species
Caddisflies
Extinct species
- Tobias' caddisfly (Hydropsyche tobiasi)
- Castle Lake caddisfly (Rhyacophila amabilis)
- Athens caddisfly (Triaenodes phalacris)
- Three-tooth caddisfly (Triaenodes tridonata)
Mayflies
Extinct species
- Pecatonica river mayfly (Acanthametropus pecatonica)
- Robust burrowing mayfly (Pentagenia robusta)
Flies
Extinct species
Earwigs
Extinct species
- Saint Helena earwig (Labidura herculeana)
Lice
Extinct species
- California Condor Louse (Colpocephalum californici)
Plecoptera
Extinct species
- Robert's stonefly (Alloperla roberti)
Hemiptera
Extinct species
Blattodea
Extinct species
- Margatteoidea amoena
Possibly extinct species
- Balta crassivenosa
- Holocompsa pusilla
- Sliferia similis
- Theganopteryx grisea
- Theganopteryx liturata
- Theganopteryx scotti
Extinct in the wild
Phasmatodea
Extinct species
- Ridley's stick insect (Pseudobactricia ridleyi)
Orthoptera
Extinct species
- Central Valley grasshopper (Conozoa hyalina)
- Rocky Mountain locust (Melanoplus spretus)
- Antioch dunes shieldback katydid (Neduba extincta)
Possibly extinct species
- Morogoro pretty grasshopper (Acanthothericles bicoloripes)
- Zanzibar giant forest grasshopper (Allaga ambigua)
- Usambara splendid grasshopper (Anischnansis burtti)
- Morogoro monkey grasshopper (Chromomastax movogovodia)
- Mpwapwa silent grasshopper (Chromousambilla burtti)
- Maspalomas bow-legged grasshopper (Dericorys minutus)
- Kilosa noble grasshopper (Eupropacris abbreviata)
- Mlingano monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia bidens)
- Burtt's monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia burtti)
- Dirsh's monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia dirshi)
- Phipps' monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia phippsi)
- Dar-es-salaam monkey grasshopper (Euschmidtia viridifasciata)
- Gran Canaria bush-cricket (Evergoderes cabrerai)
- Zulu ambush katydid (Peringueyella zulu)
- Seychelles shortwinged groundhopper (Procytettix fusiformis)
- Three-lobed bush-cricket (Rhacocleis trilobata)
- Peringuey's seedpod shieldback (Thoracistus peringueyi)
Extinct in the wild species
- Oahu deceptor bush cricket (Leptogryllus deceptor)
Hymenopterans
Possibly extinct species
- Andrena labiatula
- Bombus franklini
- Bombus rubriventris
- Nomada siciliensis
Mantodeans
Possibly extinct species
- Spined dwarf mantis (Ameles fasciipennis)
Lepidoptera
Moths and butterflies
Extinct species
- Poko noctuid moth (Agrotis crinigera)
- Midway noctuid moth (Agrotis fasciata)
- Kerr's noctuid moth (Agrotis kerri)
- Laysan noctuid moth (Agrotis laysanensis)
- Agrotis photophila
- Procellaris grotis noctuid moth (Agrotis procellaris)
- Chestnut ermine moth (Argyresthia castaneela)
- Coleophora leucochrysella
- Deloneura immaculata
- Phleophagan chestnut moth (Ectodemia phleophaga)
- Genophantis leahi
- Xerces blue (Glaucopsyche xerces)
- Confused moth (Helicoverpa confusa)
- Minute noctuid moth (Helicoverpa minuta)
- Laysan dropseed noctuid moth (Hypena laysanensis)
- Hilo noctuid moth (Hypena newelli)
- Lovegrass noctuid moth (Hypena plagiota)
- Kaholuamano noctuid moth (Hypena senicula)
- Lepidochrysops hypopolia
- Levuana moth (Levuana iridescens)
- Libythea cinyras
- Kona giant looper moth (Scotorythra megalophylla)
- Ko'olau giant looper moth (Scotorythra nesiotes)
- Chestnut clearwing moth (Tischeria perplexa)
- Ola'a peppered looper moth (Tritocleis microphylla)
- Sloane's urania (Urania sloanus)
Possibly extinct species
Beetles
Extinct species
- Apteroessa grossa
- Dryophthorus distinguendus
- Mono Lake diving beetle (Hygrotus artus)
- Mecodema punctellum
- Megadytes ducalis
- Laysan weevil (Oodemas laysanensis)
- Rhantus novacaledoniae
- Rhantus orbignyi
- Rhantus papuanus
- Rhyncogonus bryani
- Perrin's cave beetle (Siettitia balsetensis)
- Fort Ross weevil (Trigonoscuta rossi)
- Yorba linda weevil (Trigonoscuta yorbalindae)
Possibly extinct species
Odonata
Includes dragonflies and damselflies.
Extinct species
- Maui upland damselfly (Megalagrion jugorum)
Possibly extinct species
- Anisogomphus solitaris
- Togo red jewel (Chlorocypha jejuna)
- Disparoneura ramajana
- Drepanosticta adami
- Drepanosticta austeni
- Drepanosticta montana
- Drepanosticta submontana
- Enallagma maldivensis
- Heliogomphus lyratus
- Heliogomphus nietneri
- Heteragrion peregrinum
- Macromia flinti
- Molokai damselfly (Megalagrion molokaiense)
- Metaleptobasis gibbosa
- Elusive skimmer (Orthetrum rubens)
- Palaemnema edmondi
- Perissolestes remus