Flies
43 species of fly have become extinct in England in the last 200 years, 10 of which are shown below
Species: Belida angelicae
Extinct: 1936
Species: Clitellaria ephippium
Extinct: 1850
© John Reinecke
© Hectonichus
2012
LOST LIFE PROJECT
Click on the Lost Life menu button and use the dropdown menu to view our lost life archive or continue reading.
The world is currently experiencing the sixth mass extinction event, caused largely by human activities that continue to damage and destroy biodiversity across the globe. High extinction rates are typically associated with the most biodiverse regions such as the tropical rainforests, however, it is vital that we do not forget about the species that live closer to home.
Over the past 200 years, over 400 species have been lost from England alone. This incredible loss of biodiversity has been caused by a range of factors, such as habitat degradation and modification, the intensification of agriculture, pollution and poor land management. The Lost Life Project aims to raise awareness about this issue. There are still many species in England that are edging closer and closer to extinction every year. We believe that by both raising awareness about the tragic extinctions that have already occurred and focussing our work on the very rarest species in the UK, we can prevent further losses from occurring.
LOST SPECIES
Over the last 200 years, 413 species have become extinct in England (based on previous data produced by Natural England, Biodiversity Challenge and the IUCN).
These include species of ants, bees, beetles, birds, butterflies, caddisflies, cnidarians, dragonflies, earwigs, fish, fleas, flies, fungi, heteropteran, bugs, lichens, liverworts, mammals, mayflies, mosses, moths, sawflies,
shrimps, snails, spiders, stoneflies, stoneworts, true bugs, vascular plants and wasps. Some of these species are shown in our archive pages, with information on the year and specific causes of extinction where known, while the full list is available here. One of the primary aims of the Species Recovery Trust is to prevent this list from getting any longer, and with your help we can make this happen.