[Taxacom] when is a common species critically endangered?

[Stephen Thorpe]

For plants, this is easy to answer: when it is critically endangered in the wild, but common in cultivation. More interesting is the case of an insect or mite, host specific to such a plant. I am debating this issue at the moment. A mite has been put on the "Nationally Critical" list just because its only host plant is on the "Nationally Critical" list. But I say this is wrong! The plant is common in cultivation, and the mite is also on cultivated plants! For animals, including mites, you can't make an "in the wild" vs. "in cultivation" distinction. Basically the mite is "in the wild" regardless of whether it is on wild or cultivated plants, in my view. What do others think?
 
Stephen