Generally, species can be protected by the conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystems in which they occur. However, some vulnerable and threatened species need special attention. In order to protect these species effectively, data should be available on their conservation status, their decline and the threats that are operating. Such data are lacking in the recent Red List of the IUCN. Most ant species mentioned in this list are social parasites. The question arises whether these species can be protected more effectively by protecting and managing the biotope of their more easily found host species. Presently, it is not clear who will collect and interpret the data for making a selection of Red List species. Attention should also be paid to umbrella species, which are important for the survival of other species, and keystone species, which play an important role in an ecosystem.