Geneva - (AFP) - More than a third of the species of cyclamen , which are insects that play a prominent role in the process of pollinating flowers, are threatened with extinction in Europe due to the intensification of agriculture in particular, according to a preliminary study published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature on Tuesday.

The caterpillar feeds mainly on aphids, and thus contributes to controlling the number of insects harmful to crops. When they become adults, they feed on flowers and thus play an essential role in their pollination, which enhances agricultural production.

An initial European assessment of these insects by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in response to the European Commission's request showed that, like bees, sarids are at risk of extinction.

The association said in a statement that the assessment showed that 314 of the 890 species of larvae in Europe are "vulnerable, threatened or critically endangered".

Federation spokesman Matthias Fischer told AFP that the union indicated that 45 of the 890 species were "not sufficiently documented", meaning that there was not enough information on which to determine their status.

"This means that between 35.28 and 40.33% of sarvy species are threatened with extinction, with 37% as the most likely percentage," he added.

Sarvas are considered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, essential to world food security, as they represent the second most important group of pollinators in the world after bees.

The intensification of agriculture, the use of hazardous pesticides, deforestation, urban development and climate change are the main factors threatening these insects.

The statement quoted the Federation's Director General, Bruno Oberly, as stressing, "the necessity of transforming all economic sectors, particularly the agricultural sector, to become sustainable and bear positive impacts on nature."

Dr. Frances Gilbert, Co-Chair of the Sarvat Expert Group on the Consortium's Species Conservation Committee, said the key step to help stem population decline is to protect their habitat.

He believes that the most urgent matter is to protect the dead wood and perennial trees that contain holes in which the caterpillars of caterpillars feed, which is a necessary step for many other endangered species.

The study pointed out that more than a quarter (244) of the species evaluated were affected by the deterioration or change of their habitats as a result of factors resulting from climate change, particularly fires that are increasing in frequency.