Insects are the most numerous species of living things. They are omnipresent and settled around the globe. Now described and studied more than a million species of insects. But according to scientists, there are many more. The process of evolution involves a constant change in the number of individual species. Some of them disappear, others are spreading more and more. But over the past 200 years, man has intervened in this process. His economic activity leads to the fact that many species useful in evolutionary terms disappear or become rare. Red Book insects are those that need protection. They are forbidden to destroy and catch. This document was created precisely so that rare species are preserved on Earth.
Why do insects die out
These representatives of terrestrial fauna in many people cause disgust and fear. Therefore, they are subconsciously tuned to exterminate insects. They are dying due to changes in living conditions, such as climate. The plowing of steppes and meadows, the use of insect habitats for pastures, the growth of cities and the use of technology are also factors leading to a reduction in their numbers.
Most species are very sensitive to various diseases and changes in air composition. And aquatic insects die out due to pollution of rivers and lakes. Scientists only a few decades ago managed to draw public attention to this problem. And in the 70s of the 20th century, insects listed in the Red Book began to be protected. But by this time, many species had irrevocably disappeared from the face of the Earth.
Red List Insects
At the beginning of the 20th century, they started talking about the problems of the extinction of certain species. But only by the end of the century did species in need of protection be described in detail. In Russia there are about 100 of them. These are mainly medium and large beetles and butterflies, many of them are very beautiful, are exterminated by man for collections. What are the insects of the Red Book? It:
- sentinel emperor;
- Caucasian ground beetle ;
- odorous beauty;
- black stag beetle;
- relic lumberjack ;
- alpine barbel ;
- carpenter bee;
- Mongolian bear;
- wild silkworm;
- stag beetle;
- mnemosin butterfly;
- bronze smooth and Caucasian;
- two-spotted aphody;
- Far Eastern hermit and many others.
The most interesting Red Book insects
- A rare species from the order of orthoptera is called the steppe horn. Distributed locally in the steppe zone of southern Europe and Siberia. But due to the plowing of virgin lands and an increase in livestock numbers, it disappears there too.
- A large beautiful butterfly - Apollo - is endangered. The decrease in the number of species is also influenced by the fact that they are caught for collections.
- The stag beetle is a very beautiful large insect. This species is greatly reduced, most likely due to a decrease in the area of forests - its places of residence.
- The peacock night eye is the largest butterfly in Russia. The wingspan reaches 15 centimeters. It is now very rare in the south of the Caucasus or the Black Sea coast.
- Endangered is a very interesting butterfly - wavy clanis. She has narrow long wings and a beautiful light brown color.
- It has almost disappeared and in recent times there has been an extremely rare nondescript bug - the parrot nutcracker.
- Isolated specimens are sometimes found in a beautiful celestial barbel. He has a long mustache and unusual coloring.
What actions are being taken to protect them?
Many insects of the Red Book of Russia do not harm humans at all, but even bring benefits. Some of them are very beautiful. Yes, and ordinary nondescript moths and beetles also need protection. It is necessary that all the variety of species is preserved. Red Book insects are protected by special law. What does he prescribe? According to the provision:
- economic activities leading to the extinction of rare species are prohibited;
- it is impossible to reduce or worsen their habitat;
- administrative responsibility is provided for the capture and extermination of rare insects;
- mini-reserves and micro-reserves are created in the habitats of rare species.
Insects listed in the Red Book of Russia are under protection. The abundance of some species is gradually recovering, while others are found in single copies. So that these insects do not completely disappear, everyone should participate in their conservation: do not catch butterflies and bugs, do not trample grass, do not use chemicals in the fields, in general, protect nature.