The Rocky Mountain locust
Billions of Rocky Mountain Locusts, Melanoplus spretus, used to migrate in large numbers to the Great Plains until the late 1800s. However, the swarms ceased to appear after this period, and the locusts have remained unseen since 1902.

British photographer Levon Biss has created an exhibition called Extinct & Endangered: Insects in Peril to raise awareness of the beauty of insects. The exhibition showcases stunning photographs taken with microscope lenses. Biss’s work serves as a reminder that we often fail to appreciate the beauty of these creatures until it’s too late. This reality is evident in the fate of the once abundant Rocky Mountain Locust (Melanoplus spretus), last seen in 1902. Biss’s photographs, created from up to 10,000 individual images, capture the intricate details of his subjects, drawing attention to the importance of preserving the planet’s biodiversity.

h/t: flashbak

American burying beetle
The American burying beetle, or Nicrophorus americanus, can devour an entire small mammal, bird, or reptile carcass, leaving only the bones. This beetle is a nurturing parent, feeding its larvae by regurgitating food from the carcass, which contributes to the ecosystem by recycling decomposing animals into the soil.

Xerces blue butterfly
The Xerces blue butterfly, once native to San Francisco, California, became extinct in the 1940s due to human activity. It was the first butterfly species in North America to go extinct among the continent’s 14,000 species of butterflies and moths.

Monarch butterfly
The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is known for its extensive migrations across North America.

Coral pink sand dunes tiger beetle
The Cicindela Albissima beetle blends seamlessly into its Utah habitat with its cream-and-green hues. Its cream forewings aid in keeping cool in the desert heat by reflecting sunlight, rather than absorbing it.

Christmas beetle
Anoplognathus viridiaeneus, or king beetles, are scarab beetles with a shiny, iridescent shell. They used to be commonly seen and heard swarming city streetlights and buzzing through the night during the holiday season in Australia. However, they are now rarely observed in urban areas. These beetles are more commonly found in rural regions during their summer months starting in December.

Louisiana eyed silkmoth
During the night, the Louisianan Automeris silkmoth emerges from the marshes, ready to take flight. Equipped with intimidating eyespots on its hindwings, this species of silkmoth has a short lifespan. It is commonly found in the Mississippi Delta and the eastern Gulf Coast of Texas.

Giant Patagonian bumblebee
Bombus Dahlbomii, a bumblebee native to southern South America, is among the largest in the world and is occasionally called the ‘flying mouse’.