NM-RARe: A FRAMEWORK FOR REGIONAL ARTHROPOD CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT: INSIGHTS FROM NEW MEXICO

Abstract

Arthropods represent the most species-rich animal group on the planet, yet they remain largely overlooked in formal conservation planning. New Mexico is a US state with exceptional biodiversity, including numerous endemic, rare, and threatened arthropod species. Recent attention to global insect declines has highlighted the need to document possible threats to and declines of New Mexico insects and other arthropods. All terrestrial arthropods in New Mexico lacked state-level regulatory protection until 2025, and baseline data on the taxonomy, ecology, geographic distribution and conservation needs for most New Mexico arthropod species remained absent. To address this gap, we developed the New Mexico Rare Arthropod Resource (NM-RARe), a publicly accessible regional database for arthropod species and subspecies of conservation concern in New Mexico. Drawing from multiple vetted sources, we compiled an initial working list of 7,018 taxa and conducted 261 preliminary IUCN Red List assessments and 185 NatureServe state rank assessments, covering 285 total taxa. Of those assessed by IUCN Red List standards, 52 were subspecies and 209 were species level assessments, 165 of which met the criteria for inclusion and were incorporated into the NM-RARe database (https://nmrare.org/). Ninety-three of the pollinating insect species from NM-RARe were then formally incorporated into New Mexico's 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), representing a significant conservation milestone. Beyond its immediate regional impact, NM-RARe presents a standardized, scalable methodology adaptable to any region or taxonomic group, offering a replicable framework for arthropod conservation assessment worldwide.