Arachnids (spiders, scorpions, harvestmen, etc.) often evoke fear or disgust. Despite this response, these animals play an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. As global biodiversity declines, including what some researchers have described as an “insect apocalypse,” two ecologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst set out to find out how insects and arachnids are faring in the United States. What they discovered was surprising. This means that there are large gaps in the available data. The results of their study were recently published. PNAShighlights the urgent need to improve the research, conservation and evaluation of insects and arachnids, which form a critical foundation for the health of our planet.
“Insects and arachnids are the foundation of human society,” says Laura Figueroa, assistant professor of environmental conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and senior author of the study. “They help with pollination and biological control of pests. They also play a role in monitoring air and water quality, and have become deeply ingrained in many cultures around the world.” Think of Aragog from the Harry Potter series, for example. “Many people care about some of the planet’s most popular and charismatic animals, such as lions and pandas, which rightly attract international conservation attention. Given that insects and arachnids don’t usually get the same attention, we wanted to know how they do.”
Nearly 90% of species have no protected status
To understand the status of these often overlooked organisms, Figueroa and the paper’s first author, graduate student Wes Walsh, compiled a conservation assessment of 99,312 known insect and arachnid species that live in North America north of Mexico. The results were amazing.
“Almost 90% of insects and arachnids, 88.5% to be exact, have no protected status,” Figueroa said. “We have no idea how they do it. We know very little about the conservation needs of most insects and arachnids in North America.”
The limited information that exists is variable. Much of the available research focuses on aquatic insects (mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies) that help scientists monitor water quality. On the other hand, more visually appealing insect groups, such as butterflies and dragonflies, receive a disproportionate share of conservation protection.
“Arachnids in particular are really missing out on protections. Most states don’t even protect a single species. We need more data and protections, not just for insects, but for arachnids as well,” Walsh said.
Conservation protections vary by state
The researchers also found patterns in which countries were more likely to protect these species. States that rely heavily on extractive industries, such as mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, tend to have fewer protections for insects and arachnids. In contrast, states where public attitudes were more environmentally focused were more likely to protect more species.
Lessons learned from bird conservation successes
Figueroa points to bird conservation as an example of how concerted efforts can make a difference. Programs that focus on birds have far greater success in species conservation and recovery.
“Research shows that the best conservation efforts occur when broad and diverse coalitions come together,” she says. “In the case of birds, it was hunters, birdwatchers, nonprofits, and many other stakeholders who came together to achieve a common goal.”
Why insects and arachnids should be protected
“Insects and arachnids are more than just things to fear,” says Walsh, who has a beautiful spider tattoo on her arm. “We need to recognize their ecological importance, and that starts with collecting more data and thinking they deserve protection.”
