Butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, worms, starfish, mussels, and crabs are but a few of the millions of invertebrates at the heart of a healthy environment. Invertebrates build the stunning coral reefs of our oceans; they are essential to the reproduction of most flowering plants, including many fruits, vegetables, and nuts; and they are food for birds, fish, and other animals. Yet invertebrate populations are often imperiled by human activities and rarely accounted for in mainstream conservation.
Established in 1971 and named after the extinct Xerces blue butterfly (Glaucopsyche xerces), the Xerces Society is at the forefront of invertebrate protection, harnessing the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of local citizens to implement conservation and education programs. For more than four decades, we have protected endangered species and their habitats, produced groundbreaking publications on insect conservation, trained thousands of farmers and land managers to protect and manage habitat, and raised awareness about the invertebrates of forests, prairies, deserts, and oceans.
Of the more than 1 million species of animals in the world, 94 percent are invertebrates. The services they perform—pollination, seed dispersal, food for wildlife, nutrient recycling—are critical to life on our planet. Indeed, without them whole ecosystems would collapse. But when decisions are made about environmental policy and land management, these vital and diverse creatures are often overlooked. The Xerces Society works to address this situation in a variety of ways.
We educate farmers, land managers, and the public about the importance of invertebrates by demonstrating that habitat protection and management are keys to their conservation. Xerces Society staff train farmers, agency officials, gardeners, park managers, and others to protect, restore, and enhance areas for pollinators and other beneficial insects; protect at-risk species such as bumble bees, tiger beetles, and butterflies; and help managers understand how to monitor the health of streams, rivers, and wetlands.
Xerces advocates on behalf of threatened, endangered, and at-risk invertebrates and their habitats. From the world’s rarest butterflies, to caddisflies that live solely in one stream, to declining bumble bees, Xerces is dedicated to protecting invertebrates and the ecosystems that depend on them.
We work with federal agencies to incorporate the needs of pollinators and other invertebrates into national conservation programs. We work with lawmakers to pass legislation to improve habitat for invertebrates. We also promote invertebrate protection using the Endangered Species Act and other federal and state laws.
Via our biannual color magazine for members (Wings: Essays on Invertebrate Conservation) and through our books and website, we disseminate scientific information, updates on advocacy efforts, and practical suggestions for helping invertebrates. Wings features articles by leading conservationists and scientists as well as extraordinary color images from renowned wildlife photographers. Xerces also publishes guidelines, fact sheets, and identification guides that help citizens take action to protect pollinators and other beneficial insects. Many of these publications are free on our website, xerces.org.
We work on a variety of applied research projects that help us to protect habitat, ranging from studying how to effectively restore pollinator habitat on farms to understanding the life history of endangered species. Through the Joan Mosenthal DeWind Award, the Xerces Society offers grants to students conducting research on Lepidoptera conservation. Our staff members regularly write scientific papers and magazine articles, coordinate field work, and take leading roles in national and international scientific coalitions.
As a Xerces Society member, you will receive Wings: Essays on Invertebrate Conservation twice a year as well as timely bulletins on invertebrate conservation efforts. Most important, your support helps fund innovative conservation programs, effective education and advocacy, and scientific and popular publications, helping to spread the word about the vital role invertebrates play in our lives. Please join us today!