Is invertebrate conservation in Great Britain best achieved by policies that increase species protection?

We discuss proposals to extend the list of protected insect species in Great Britain and question whether existing species protection measures are appropriate for insects whose ecology is substantially unknown. We highlight the practicalities of applying such measures to very poorly known taxa, whose identification depends upon highly experienced specialists and a tiny pool of relevant expertise. We propose a seven-point plan that would strengthen invertebrate conservation in Great Britain. Our proposals could be applied to other countries with a protected sites network and a desire to improve habitat-based insect conservation measures. Implications for insect conservation Our analysis suggests that insect conservation will not be improved by legislation that restricts the potential for adhoc surveillance that currently provides almost all the data used to monitor rare and threatened insects. We highlight the need for Improvements in the understanding of insect micro-habitat requirements amongst conservation managers. Our proposed seven-point plan provides a structured approach to insect conservation that should improve identification of important insect sites, site management and landscape-scale conservation measures.