Tag | Xerces Society

How to Help

Xerces yard signs in front of a home garden, with fallen leaves on the ground. One reads "Leave the Leaves", while the second, in Spanish, reads "Las Hojas son Vitales".

Leave the Leaves for Natural Pest Control

Fallen leaves provide year-round habitat for all sorts of beneficial insects that eat pests in your yard!

A queen bumble bee looks for a spot within a thick leaf cover.

Leave the Leaves!

One of the most valuable ways to support pollinators and other invertebrates is to provide them with the shelter they need to survive the winter. Thankfully, all you need to do is do less yard work.

Monarch caterpillar on narrowleaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis). (Photo: Xerces Society / Stephanie McKnight)

Keep Monarchs Wild: Why Captive Rearing Isn’t the Way to Help Monarchs

Instead of rearing—which is risky and unproven in helping monarchs—we should focus on more effective, science-backed ways to conserve these glorious wild animals.

Many firefly flashes light up a field in Indiana.

Are Fireflies Going Extinct? Here Are Six Ways To Make Sure They Survive

Is this the last generation to see fireflies? We don’t think so. But we need to take action now to ensure they’re here to stay.

A large fluffy bee drinking from a shallow pool of water

If You’re Thirsty, They’re Thirsty: Make a Simple Water Source To Support Pollinators

Even a humble puddle can make a big impact for your backyard wildlife. Learn how to make one that fits your space.

A bumblebee visiting a sunflower in a backyard pollinator garden.

How to Make a Pollinator Garden

Gardens provide important food and shelter for pollinators. We've put together a list of tips that will help you prioritize the health and safety of these important garden inhabitants.

Many small dead bees laying scattered across the floor. A pencil is in the middle, to show the scale.

I See Dead Bees: What To Do Next and Why It Matters

Finding insects that have been harmed by pesticides is a sad experience. But there is a lot you can do to help prevent it from happening again!

A monarch butterfly feeding on the nectar of a milkweed flower.

Everything You Need to Know About Eastern Monarchs and How to Help Them

Monarch butterflies are famous for their colors and impressive migration. But they don’t all migrate in the same way! Discover what makes the eastern monarch population special.

No Mow May: An Easy Start for a Nature-Friendly Yard (But Not the Finish Line)

"No Mow May" is a quick and catchy name for a movement that aims far beyond not mowing the yard for a month. It's a gateway to understanding how we share our lawns with many small creatures.

Several people gathered together to plant a tree. One holds the tree steady while others shovel in dirt around it.

Stronger Together: How To Build Your Conservation Community This Earth Week

Building your community can help us do more for conservation, and lightens the load and keeps us coming back to the causes we care about. Here's how!

A rake leaning against a shed, with dried leaves left untidied on the ground.

For Pollinators' Sakes, Don’t Spring into Garden Cleanup Too Soon!

Early spring garden cleanup can disrupt critical invertebrate habitat and leave pollinators out in the cold. Our guidelines will help you determine when cleaning up won't bug the pollinators in your space.

New Year’s Resolutions That Will Benefit Nature, Wildlife, and Invertebrates

Start your year out right with a resolution that will make you feel inspired, empowered, and joyful! We’ve compiled a list of realistic and measurable new year’s resolution ideas that will benefit invertebrates, wildlife, nature, and you.

Bumble bee collecting nectar in a field of flowers with mountains in the background

3 Ways to Host a Fundraiser for the Xerces Society

We’d love to have you join us in raising awareness and funds for the invertebrates that mean so much to all of us.

A tractor with a seed-planting attachment drives through a field planting corn seeds behind it as it travels.

The EPA's New Strategies to Protect Endangered Species from Pesticides Need Improvement

The Environmental Protection Agency’s new rules represent progress toward reducing the risk of pesticides, but there are flaws in the plan that limit its effectiveness.

Looking from a wetland and natural area in a park out into the surrounding streets. Many of the houses have unnecessary lighting in their backyards that throw light far into the wetlands. Instead of darkness, the sky behind the lights is a bright grey, blocking out all but the brightest stars, which are just barely visible.

To Protect Pollinators, We Need to Fight Light Pollution

Just as water pollution makes every drink dangerous, light pollution puts nocturnal bugs at risk.

"World Migratory Bird Day. Protect Insects, Protect Birds" Illustrations of many different birds and insects

World Migratory Bird Day: Birds Need Bugs, And Both Need Our Help

Every action we take to save insects from pesticides, or to conserve nesting habitat for birds, helps the other. Together, bird watchers and bug fans can make a healthier world for everyone.

Several flowering perennial plants along the edge of a sidewalk.

They Go with Everything: Even a Small Patch of Native Wildflowers Makes a Difference

Jennifer Hopwood shares how adding even a few plants is the perfect complement to the other habitat features of your yard, garden, or balcony.

A bee emerging from its nest entrance, which has been dug into sandy soil. The bee has a black body covered all over in short blonde fur.

Clear Space for Bees: Why Pollinators in Your Yard Need Access To Bare Ground

Open patches of soil and sand, with few or no plants, are a key nesting habitat for the majority of native bees, and easy for us to provide.

A mining bee peeking its fuzzy head out of its burrow, dug out of soil directly under a stone. The bee is covered in orange fluffy fur. Numerous other beneficial insects also make their homes in gaps or burrows dug out from the soil under a stone.

Wildlife on the Rocks: Providing the Rocky Habitats Bugs Need for Shelter

Rock piles and stone walls might seem like they take yard space away from plants, but these features are crucial to support a diverse wildlife community.

A bright metallic green bee peeking its head out of a round hole in a mossy log. Once, a beetle excavated this tunnel, on its way out from the fallen log that it had lived inside as a larva. Now, the bee has remodeled the tunnel for its nest.

Tiny Places for Tiny Animals: Building the Microhabitats that Bugs Need to Thrive

It’s easy to add small features, like a brush pile, dead stems, or a leafy corner that can make a big difference for wildlife! Here's how.

Monarchs clustering on branch at overwintering site in Mexico

The Power of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Join our December Fundraising Challenge!

We’re hosting a fundraising challenge this December, and we need your support! Prizes are available.

Protecting Invertebrates – Even When We Can’t See Them

Pesticides are a leading threat to fireflies and other insects. Fireflies' behavior, habitat, and life cycle make them particularly vulnerable to several common home pesticide applications.

Community campaign to stop mosquito spraying to protect wildlife

These Bee-Safe Communities are Welcoming Back Pollinators

It takes a village to provide pollinator-safe spaces. These 8 communities are modeling the collaboration and creativity necessary to bring back declining pollinators.

Looking for Pollinator-Safe Plants? Talk to Your Nursery

Research suggests that even pollinator plants are often contaminated with pesticides at the store. Learn how to find plants that aren't and increase demand for pollinator-safe plants.

Top 7 Reasons to Stop Pesticide Use at Home

60 million pounds of pesticides are used in U.S. homes and gardens each year. Here are our top reasons to keep your space pesticide-free.

Monarch Wishing Tree holding up hundreds of wooden butterflies

California Garden Center Leads by Example with Monarch Wishing Tree

Each spring a beautiful ficus tree transforms into something extra special for the folks that visit Roger’s Gardens plant nursery. The Monarch Wishing Tree displays hundreds of well wishes written on little wooden butterflies that support conservation.

Eastern swallowtail butterfly on buttonbush

Ways to Defend Biodiversity this Earth Week

Earth Week only comes once a year, so let's make it count! Defend biodiversity this week with one of these high-impact actions.

Monarch drinking nectar from purple coneflower

What is a Monarch’s Favorite Nectar Plant? Scientists are Seeking Your Observations

Xerces scientists are seeking your observations to learn more about adult monarch nectar plant preferences. Our revised system for this community science opportunity has made it easier than ever to submit data about monarch butterflies and the flowers they are nectaring from.

Can You Top These 15 Creative Xerces Fundraiser Ideas?

As it turns out, growing a beard can indeed support invertebrate conservation — with peer-to-peer fundraisers supporting the Xerces Society. Help us raise money and awareness while having fun and flexing your creativity. Use our ideas as inspiration and let your imagination shine!

A bee foraging on a yellow and purple flower in a suburban garden. The bee is golden-brown and hairy, and has very long antennae. The flower has many narrow, purple petals that radiate out from the yellow center. The flower is growing in a flower border beside a house. Behind can be seen a blue garage door and a white sedan parked on the driveway.

Four Steps You can Take to Bring Back the Pollinators

Bees and other pollinators are clearly facing challenges from habitat loss and pesticide use, even climate change. By managing our gardens, parks, and other greenspaces with pollinators in mind, we can transform our towns and cities to support the insects that are essential for a healthy environment—and if we all do something, together we can have a big impact. Xerces' Bring Back the Pollinators campaign provides one way to achieve this change.

A photograph of a farm, looking along a recently planted hedgerow. The hedgerow has three rows of bushy plants that stretch into the distance. Many of the plants are in bloom, showing yellow, white, pink, and purple flowers. To the left is a pond, reflecting the blue sky. To the right is a gravel road and apple trees.

Businesses Support the “Little Things that Run the World”

Businesses are a vital part of achieving the necessary change to avert insect declines. We are lucky to work with dozens of them, from independent artists to some of the world’s largest food companies. No matter the size, we work with businesses that share our commitment to protecting biodiversity in all its forms.

A group of young people standing a classroom holding wooden insect houses that they have been building. Some people have blonde hair, some brown, and some black. A few of the group are wearing head scarfs. The insect houses are square frames with a pointed roof.

Bee City USA & Bee Campus USA Affiliate Spotlight: University of Michigan-Dearborn

Pollinators are in decline, but what can a small or medium-sized university or college do to help? As it turns out, plenty. The University of Michigan-Dearborn has an outsized, long, and rich tradition of promoting environmental education and sustainability, especially in regards to pollinators—and in autumn 2019, was certified as a Bee Campus USA affiliate.

A group of people wearing wide-brimmed hats stand with their backs to the camera, watching a man standing waist-deep in grass and flowers swings a white butterfly net.

Using Community Science to Conserve Bumble Bees: From Small Beginnings to a Continent-Wide Effort

As we mark Xerces' 50th year, we look at the ongoing effort to protect bumble bees. Xerces has adopted a multi-pronged approach: outreach and education to raise awareness, technical assistance with habitat restoration, advocacy to gain legal protection, and, the focus of this article, community science to gather data that informs our work.

A pollinator garden full of yellow-and-red and pink flowers. In the center is a sign that says "Pollinator Garden" and has colorful illustrations of flowers, butterflies, and bees.

Building Resilient Communities: Reflecting on a Year of Challenge and Opportunity for Bee City USA & Bee Campus USA

The accomplishments of Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA communities during the last year are a textbook example of resilience. Rather than canceling projects and activities, the committees adapted to the new conditions, finding ways to continue creating spaces for our ecological communities to do the same.

The black hairs that cover the rear segments of this yellow-and-black bumble bee shine in the sunshine as it forages on a pink flower

What Should You Do for Pollinator Week? Go Bumble Bee Watching!

Going bumble bee watching is not only fun, but also a great way to contribute to real conservation science. Why not try it this summer?

In daylight, most fireflies don't look so magical. This big dipper firefly is mostly black, with pale brown margins to it's body and a red patch on the top of it's thorax.

Shedding Light on Firefly Natural History and Distributions through Community Science

Gathering habitat and distribution information about lesser-known species is a mammoth task, made easier by the observations submitted by individuals participating in community science projects. You can help, too!

A bottle of vinegar lies on a table beside a bowl full of slices of peach and cherry tomatoes

Bee Better Certified: One Acre at a Time

When we launched Bee Better Certified® in 2017, our sights were set high on a large long-term goal: to move the agricultural industry towards being a safer landscape for bees and other pollinators. Large-scale change happens little by little over an extended period of time, and with each year that passes we continue to see increased interest and adoption of the program throughout the food industry.

A cluster of several dozen orange-and-black monarch butterflies rest on the branches of a pine tree

Applying a Holistic Approach to Monarch Conservation

Xerces is a science-based conservation organization and our work on monarchs is no different. Whether it is restoring overwintering sites in California, creating breeding habitat in New York State, or protecting monarchs from pesticides, science informs our actions and maximizes our conservation return.

A glow-worm with an elongated and segmented body of dark brown with pink stripes

Supporting Firefly Conservation from Coast to Coast

Late spring and early summer are synonymous with fireflies. Females perch on vegetation or sit on the ground while males take flight, flashing their abdomens and awaiting a response from below. For humans, it could just as well be a magic show, a glimmering peek at one of the great wonders of the natural world.

A small black-and-white striped bee is curled over with its head in a pink flower to reach the nectar

Ask for a Healthier World

Do you want a more bee-friendly community or a different way to control mosquitoes? Change can start with a simple ask. Asking, if done respectfully and with curiosity, can bring empowerment and strengthen community.

The long coiled body of a brown centipede shines against the dark soil

The Actual Earth of Earth Week

Soils support the most biologically rich animal communities on earth, outside of our oceans. A single cubic foot of tallgrass prairie soil may contain billions of organisms, and more species diversity than the entire above-ground Amazon rainforest. Yet we think little of this life.

Beneath a blue sky, the clear waters of a river sparkle as it flows past pine trees

WARNING: this blog post may entice you to partake in “virtual democracy”

From the comfort of home, I engage in conservation efforts from Maine to California and from Tennessee to Washington. I can click “Join” knowing that no matter where that video link takes me, I’ll be met by dedicated people working to create a better world.

A group of men and women stand in the middle of an old hayfield discussing plans for restoring wildflowers.

Pollinator Conservation Program Digest – March 2021

In our March 2021 Pollinator Team Digest, Alina Harris describes a community-based habitat project in New Hampshire to help monarch butterflies and other pollinators and Kaitlyn Haase shows the varied audiences and range of topics covered in recent webinars in the Southwest.

Two orange-and-black monarch butterflies drink nectar on yellow-and-red colored flowers. The flowers are tropical milkweed, a non-native plant that should not be grown to help monarchs.

Resident Monarch Populations on the Rise in California: What Does this Mean for the Western Migratory Population?

Many people have been seeing and reporting fairly large numbers of monarchs, both adults and caterpillars, all winter long in gardens on the California Coast this year. Since there haven’t been any formal studies of the number of monarchs breeding during the winter in California in prior years, it is difficult to know if there is in fact an increase this year, or if people are paying more attention and reporting them more often.

Graph showing results from surveys of overwintering monarchs in California. The number of monarchs has fallen for several years, so the height of the bars gets shorter and shorter to the right of the graph

Fifth Annual Western Monarch New Year’s Count Confirms Continued Decline in Western Monarch Population

Now in its fifth year, the New Year’s Count has given us a better understanding of: 1) how monarch numbers may decline at overwintering sites as the winter progresses; 2) how monarchs move between and within sites; 3) when they leave sites; and 4) the level of mortality that adult monarchs may be experiencing during the winter.

A small, dark-colored bee gathers nectar from the middle of a yellow flower

To Protect Pollinators, Talk to Your Nursery

Creating a welcoming home for local pollinators in your backyard or city park is reason enough to choose plants free from harmful pesticide residues. But how do you figure out if the plant you want is free of pesticides that can harm pollinators?

Well wrapped against the winter weather, two people walk across a snow-covered field of stubble scattering wildflower seed

Pollinator Conservation Program Digest – February 2021

Our pollinator team members provide regular digests on their work. In this bumper edition, three of our staff provide updates. Stephanie Frischie discusses planting seeds, Nancy Lee Adamson highlights monarch conservation in the Southeast, and Emily May introduces a newly released video.

"Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count Data 1997-2020 shows that despite a strong volunteer effort, monarch numbers are at the lowest point recorded since the count started in 1997"

Western Monarch Population Closer to Extinction as the Wait Continues for Monarchs’ Protection Under the Endangered Species Act

During the 24th Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count, nearly 100 volunteers carefully surveyed groves of trees on the California and Northern Baja coast for monarch butterflies. Despite the challenges of conducting field work during a pandemic, volunteers surveyed 246 sites, three more than last year. Unfortunately, to the surprise and dismay of many, only 1,914 monarchs were counted at all the sites. This is a shocking 99.9% decline since the 1980s.

Close-up of reddish-brown oak leaves scattered on the ground near the base of a fence

Leave the Leaves to Benefit Wildlife

For many people fall cleanup means cutting all the seed heads and stems off the flowers and raking up all of the leaves. This tidiness may look nice to us, but it is not good for all of the small creatures that live in and around your property. #leavetheleaves

The wild pansy is a tiny flower with pale purple petals

Discovery of a Rare Plant Through Remnant Prairie Restoration

Less than one-tenth of a percent of Iowa's native tallgrass prairie remains. The scraps that survive are valuable refuges for less-common plants and deserve thoughtful management.

A female firefly flashes from her perch on the tip of a curving twig

Hope Rising: World Firefly Day

World Firefly Day takes place from July 4–5 this year. Launched by the Fireflyers International Network, this year’s theme is Hope Rising. Quite literally, a light in the darkness, fireflies have inspired hope and given a sense of magic for centuries.

An orange-and-black striped checkered beetle foraging on yellow flowers

Notes from the Other Orders: Beetles as Pollinators

When we think about pollinators, the first species to pop into mind are usually bees, butterflies, and maybe, hummingbirds. But pollinators are a much broader group of animals that encompasses species from several groups of insects, including beetles such as like soldier beetles, scarabs, long-horned beetles, sap beetles, and checkered beetles.

A group of three college students with clipboards watch carefully for bees beside a flower-rich garden.

Celebrating a Year of Enacting Positive Change: Bee City USA & Bee Campus USA

National Pollinator Week offers an opportunity to celebrate the importance of bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, and the many other pollinators. It is also a time to celebrate the individuals and organizations that make up the affiliates of Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA for the amazing work they did during the last year to conserve our essential, and increasingly declining pollinators.

the bright orange face of giant hornets is a distinctive feature

An Unlikely Invasion: Giant Hornets in North America

The giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) has been in the media recently, where it was called the "murder hornet", an overly dramatic description for a generally unthreatening insect.

This graphic depicts a Checklist of Actions to Promote Pollinators in Yards, Gardens, and Parks; a score sheet for your site; a plant list; and a phone displaying a photo of some flowering habitat in front of a small house.

How to Maximize Benefits to Pollinators in Cities and Towns

Pollinators are one of the easiest groups of declining animals to support in a residential landscape, since even small spaces have the potential to meet the most basic needs of the entire insect life cycle—and even simple changes to our landscaping can make a huge difference to these animals. Here at the Xerces Society, we recently created an Urban Habitat Assessment tool, designed to help you see your yard through the eyes of a pollinator, identify areas for improvement, and prioritize actions you can take to promote these insects in your yard and community.

The front page of the guide Supporting Ecologically Sound Mosquito Management: Protecting Pollinators from Pesticides is shown, with some large text blocks and an image of a field in which different insects, including butterflies and bees, are shown in a landscape.

Start Now To Prevent Mosquito-Borne Disease and Keep Our Pollinators Safe

The Xerces Society’s new fact sheet, Smarter Pest Management: Responding to Mosquito-Borne Disease and Protecting Pollinators, highlights ways for everyone to prevent mosquito-borne disease, with recommendations that are backed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Amid a mountainous, meadow-strewn landscape, three people holding butterfly nets walk along a narrow, dirt trail.

Tracking Butterfly Populations through Community Science

Last year, the Xerces Society partnered with the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument to launchthe Cascade-Siskiyou Butterfly Monitoring Network. Though the 2020 field season is facing uncertainty, there are still ways for you to get involved with butterfly research where you live.

Two women, one with dark hair and a hat, and one with bright red hair, look at a white insect net while standing in a grassy field.

Nebraska Bumble Bee Atlas: Doing a Little to Impact the Whole

The 2020 survey season begins this June. We hope you’ll join us in our quest to learn more about bumble bees and restore Nebraska’s natural habitats.

A fuzzy, primarily yellow, bee flies towards a purple sprig of flowers. The bee and the flowers are in sharp focus. The background, made up of purples and reds, is blurred.

This Earth Week, Let's Bring Communities Together to Protect Pollinators

Bee City USA provides a framework for communities to work together to conserve native pollinators by providing them with healthy habitat, rich in a variety of native plants, and free to nearly free of pesticides.

The cover of Dave Goulson's book, The Garden Jungle or Gardening to Save the Planet is shown. It has hand-painted illustrations of flowers and insects.

Earth Week Reading: Gardening to Save the Planet

Rich Hatfield, Senior Endangered Species Conservation Biologist, writes in this book review, "I was expecting The Garden Jungle: or Gardening to Save the Planet to be a great read, but for me it was more than that."

A small house with light paint and bright blue trim is dwarfed by the lush garden in the foreground, featuring flowers of a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

12 Climate Actions for Earth Week

Some good news (amidst all the bad lately) is that even with physical distancing and shelter-in-place requirements, there are still a lot of actions many of us can take to help in the fight against climate change. Focusing on one or any combination of these actions can help.

The Xerces Society's Response to COVID-19

The science is clear: We all need to take immediate, bold action to ensure that we are doing our part to slow the spread of this virus and minimize impacts. Here are some of the steps Xerces is taking.

Monarchs stand close together on muddy ground on the edge of a puddle.

Monarchs Overwintering in Mexico Down 53%

This decline makes it clear that monarchs are not recovering and still urgently need Endangered Species Act protection in the United States and extraordinary conservation efforts throughout North America. Learn how to help here.

An illustrated landscape showing changing seasons (for instance, a tree that is half bare and half covered in bright pink blooms) shows bumble bees in various stages of their life cycle, including underground nests, foraging, and larvae.

Five Ways to Support Queen Bumble Bees this Spring

This is a critical time of year because the queen needs sufficient food herself, as well as enough to nourish her first batch of developing offspring. Adding early blooming shrubs and trees to your yard or garden can provide essential resources that will help springboard the colony to health.

A monarch with large pieces missing from both wings perches on an evergreen branch.

New Year’s Count Finds Continued Decline of Monarchs Overwintering in California

Monitoring revealed an average decrease of 46% between the Thanksgiving and New Year’s counts. While the decline is alarming, the silver lining is that this data has provided a concrete list of priority sites to target for conservation efforts.

A long line of people of diverse ages, genders, and races are all sporting bright yellow and black-striped bee outfits in an outdoor festival setting.

Evolution in Attitudes Leads to Greater Interest in Pollinator Conservation

Twenty years ago, being referred to as the “bee guy” wasn’t always positive. In contrast, today many people are keen to learn about what they can do to protect pollinators. We are proud to be part of the reason that the public has become more aware of, and engaged in, pollinator conservation.

A fuzzy bee with black and gray stripes gathers pollen in the middle of a purple flower.

Support Pollinator Conservation by Reducing or Eliminating Pesticide Use in Urban Environments

Our new fact sheet, Smarter Pest Management: Pollinator Protection for Cities and Campuses, outlines key steps to reduce or eliminate pesticide use in municipal parks, campuses, and other urban greenspaces.

A kid stands in a verdant landscape with blue sky. He is putting something into his mouth as he stands near a hedgerow with fruit and flowers on it.

Tu BiShvat, the New Year for Trees, Provides a Chance to Support Invertebrates

This ancient tradition fits into modern life—and invertebrate conservation efforts—perfectly. Modern festivities frequently focus on planting ecologically important trees and shrubs—such as pollinator-friendly or butterfly and moth host plants.

In this hand-drawn/hand-painted image, a grove of trees is shown, with a cut stump and a dead monarch with tattered wings in the foreground.

The Vanishing Butterfly Groves of California

The latest research suggests that the damage and loss of overwintering habitat is one of the primary drivers of the decline of western monarchs. Together, we can make overwintering site protection and management a reality.

A monarch clings to the trunk of a tree in a dimly-lit landscape.

Thanksgiving Count Shows Western Monarchs Need Our Help More than Ever

The western monarch population remains at a critical level. With some luck and a lot of hard work, we have hope that we can save this incredible migration.

A woman in a red rain coat and gray hiking pants stands on the edge of a rocky mountain stream, holding a net, and scanning the water carefully. She is in a mountain meadow with yellow flowers.

Xerces' Holistic Approach to Conservation

We at the Xerces Society view our work as an interconnected whole rather than as separate parts. To achieve conservation success, we must understand both science and policy. We need to inspire people and at the same time empower them with the tools they require.

A line of colorful, flowering plants, including a bush with red blossoms in the foreground, recedes into the distance. Parallel to this line are rows of trees in an orchard.

Climate News Roundup: IPCC Lands Report

When most people think about climate change, they likely think of CO2 emissions from cars or factories. But the way land is used and managed has a significant impact on the climate.

A teal-colored house is seemingly dwarfed by a profusion of plants growing around it, including purple and yellow blooms.

Insect Apocalypse? What Is Really Happening; Why it Matters; and How We All Can Help

Studies from across the world show that insects are declining. There is much we do not know, but we do know enough to take action now.

A smiling woman wearing a black coat and a black Xerces Society hat leans over a table. On the other side of the table, a kid with a colorful hoodie reaches for an assortment of small glass vials containing bee specimens. The woman and the kid are looking at the same vials and appear to be talking.

Hope and Heart: Engaging Volunteers in Conservation

Rachel Dunham, Xerces Society Community Engagement Coordinator, reflects on the pilot year of l Xerces Ambassador program and looks ahead to the program's expansion to new cities.

A fuzzy, yellow and black striped bee perches atop a cluster of bright yellow flowers.

Still Questing for Bee Nests

Did you beat the odds this year and spot a bumble bee nest? If so, we really want to hear from you for York University’s #Quest4BeeNests research project!

A tall woman with short, white hair who is holding a Xerces pollinator habitat sign stands next to a woman with dark hair and a dark down coat, in the entrance to a garden.

Bee City USA Begins a New Chapter

We're celebrating the achievements of Bee City USA founder Phyllis Stiles as she moves on to a well-deserved retirement and passes the torch to Bee City USA Coordinator Molly Martin.

Meandering yellow-green streaks weave through a darkening forest with a thick understory of ferns, in this long-exposure shot of fireflies.

Conserving the Jewels of the Night

Introducing the Xerces Society’s firefly conservation campaign: Conserving the Jewels of the Night.

In this landscape image, rows of green, leafy trees are on the left, and on the right are blossoming cover crops of various colors. There is also blue sky and puffy clouds to round out this idyllic scene.

Pollinator Conservation Program Digest – October 2019

October's featured staff members recently attended a carbon farm planning training in California, and spoke at an event that paired art and conservation in Iowa.

With wings spread, a monarch butterfly basks on a milkweed plant among the stems of a tulle marsh.

Western Monarchs: Notes from the Field

Staff from the Xerces Society and our partners have been keeping close eyes on the imperiled western monarch population at study sites in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho as part of a multi-year collaborative research project.

A glowing green mason jar contains a few fireflies in flight.

Nature Close to Home: Reimagining Gardens to Support Invertebrates

Scott Hoffman Black, executive director of the Xerces Society, encourages gardeners to increase the diversity of native plants, ensure that there are places for insects to nest, and avoid using pesticides.

Bright green trees are shown alongside a wall of windows, reflecting a blue sky and a tall building.

Climate News Round-Up: The Power of Trees!

Carbon sequestration is a key component to mitigating the climate crisis. Trees are efficient, effective, and they can be deployed on a large scale. So plant a native tree today!

Two monarchs' wings overlap as they stand back end to back end, mating.

Community Science Powers New Western Monarch Studies

Western monarch researchers and community scientists have been busy, contributing information vital to understanding the situation facing this imperiled population.

A plastic clamshell of blueberries bears the Bee Better Certified seal, as well as a label that says "Oregon grown" and the California Giant label.

Arriving in Stores: Bee Better Certified Blueberries

In partnership with AC Foods and Oregon Tilth, we’re pleased to announce the arrival of California Giant brand Bee Better Certified organic blueberries.

A purple and maroon night sky is lit by curving, white star trails, and the darkened area of the frame with silhouettes of trees is illuminated by the yellow streaks of fireflies in this long-exposure shot.

Celebrate World Firefly Day by Keeping Nights Dark

Fireflies are some of our most well-loved insects—yet their numbers appear to be dwindling. One likely driver for this decline is light pollution. Put simply, fireflies need dark nights.

A dark-colored butterfly perches on a flower in a prairie.

Let’s Make Every Week Pollinator Week!

Without a doubt, every week is Pollinator Week here at the Xerces Society. Here are a variety of ways to support our efforts to conserve these vital invertebrates throughout the year—no matter where you live!

A beautiful, bright orange monarch perches atop bright pink milkweed blossoms.

Working to Conserve Monarchs from Coast to Coast

The Xerces Society is working across the U.S. to conserve this beloved species, and there are a number of ways you can help!

A fuzzy bee with big, shiny eyes peers out of a hole in bare dirt.

Remember the Ground Nesting Bees when You Make Your Patch of Land Pollinator-Friendly

Providing nesting sites and reducing or eliminating pesticide use is key to supporting these important pollinators.

Bright yellow flowers reach upwards in this low-angle shot.

Managing Invertebrate-Friendly Gardens

Many Xerces Society members create wildlife gardens that are particularly hospitable to invertebrates. Here are three wonderful examples.

A bumble bee holds tightly to a cluster of purple flowers.

Introducing Xerces’ Newest Community Science Project: Nebraska Bumble Bee Atlas

Work alongside researchers to collect data and support bumble bee conservation.

Two women walk through a garden with abundant, colorful flowers.

Bee City USA: Galvanizing Communities to Reverse Pollinator Decline

Collectively, urban and suburban areas have the potential of offering millions of acres of life-giving habitat to pollinators.

A leafcutter bee drinks nectar from rayless blanketflower

Bring Back the Pollinators During National Pollinator Week

With Pollinator Week upon us, now is the time to reaffirm our commitment to protecting these vital invertebrates. Here are some tangible ways to help.

A tiny monarch egg can be seen in a cluster of pink milkweed blossoms.

New iNaturalist Project Makes it Easier to Submit Data to the Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper

We need all hands on deck this season, to better understand the hurdles facing the imperiled western monarch population!

A plump bumble bee with yellow and black stripes, as well as a brown patch on its back and brownish wings, pollinates a small, white flower.

5 Ways Wildlife Preservation Canada’s Bumble Bee Recovery & Conservation Initiatives Benefit from Bumble Bee Watch

Wildlife Preservation Canada’s efforts to conserve native bumble bees would be nothing without help from our volunteer community scientists across the country, and without Bumble Bee Watch.

An orange and black monarch nectars on the orange flowers of butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa).

How to Support Monarch Butterfly Conservation—During Earth Week and Beyond!

Helping the monarch back to full health isn’t going to be easy or quick, but together we can transform the landscape to allow the monarch to rebound—and give our children the gift of watching orange wings flap in the sunshine.

A fuzzy, gray and black bee collects pollen from a purple flower.

Bee City USA Mobilizes Communities to Support Imperiled Pollinators—Here’s How to Join

Earth Week is an inspiring time, brimming with opportunities to make a difference—including getting your community certified as a Bee City USA.

Robbin Thorp, wearing an orange shirt and tan pants and a tan hat, carries a net as he walks through the hills of southern Oregon.

Honoring Robbin Thorp, a Legendary Figure in North American Bee Conservation

Robbin Thorp, Professor Emeritus at University of California–Davis, has made lasting contributions to the bee conservation community in ways that might never be measured, but will certainly be felt.

A garden in the front of a home showcases a variety of pollinator plants, including orange California poppies.

Pesticide-Free Gardening Tips for Earth Week and Beyond

Please consider spending Earth Week in the garden, enjoying the diversity of insects, and taking a few of the actions outlined below to simultaneously minimize pest problems and avoid the use of pesticides.

Red-orange poppies pepper a verdant hillside.

Bee Better Certified Engages the Almond Industry

With a robust set of requirements on pesticide use and the highest standards for protecting and restoring pollinator habitat of any food certification, Bee Better Certified represents a new era in biodiversity protection on farms.

A globe, in the darkness of space, with invertebrates on all the continents and in the oceans.

Pledge to Bring Back the Pollinators—on Earth Day and Every Day

During Earth Week 2019, we are asking you to consider taking simple, yet impactful, steps to make the world better for bees, butterflies, and other essential invertebrates.

Community Scientists Take on the Cultivar Conundrum

The Xerces Society’s blog post “Picking Plants for Pollinators: The Cultivar Conundrum” highlighted the lack of research on this topic. To help address this knowledge gap, Budburst launched the Nativars research project in 2018.

A woman walking across a field with a nose working dog, looking for bumble bee nests.

A Quest for Bumble Bee Nests: The Missing Link

Researchers at York University are recruiting members from across North America for a very important mission. Your assignment, should you choose to accept it: find and submit sightings of bumble bee nests.

A field of sunflowers bordering a field.

Bee Better Certified: An Evolving Standard

After a year and a half of Bee Better Certified®, we have analyzed how the standards work for the many operations that are already implementing them, and have adjusted our requirements accordingly.

Monarch butterfly flying above milkweed.

Community Scientists Can Help Support Imperiled Western Monarchs

While hiking in California and the rest of the West, you can help researchers by submitting any and all monarch and milkweed observations this year to the Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper website.

A group of scientists taking a photo together, including Emma Pelton, our monarch specialist.

Photo Essay: Trinational Monarch Meeting and Exploring Mexico’s Monarch Overwintering Sites

Xerces Society Endangered Species Conservation Biologist and Western Monarch Lead Emma Pelton recounts her recent experience in Mexico with this photo essay.

Record Low Number of Overwintering Monarch Butterflies in California—They Need Your Help!

We urge you to join us and our colleagues in the western monarch science and conservation community in taking meaningful, swift action to help save western monarchs.

Brightly colored pollinator plants burst from a vibrant hedgerow running alongside an orchard.

Climate News Round-Up: January 2019

Climate change is an unprecedented global challenge. Angela Laws, our resident climate change expert, reviews recent news on the topic and provides concrete ways to help.

Red coreopsis flowers stand out against a blue sky.

Businesses Aligning with the Life that Sustains Us

The trend of business owners aligning with social and environmental causes is on the rise. Here at the Xerces Society, we are feeling these benefits—and are very thankful for the support.

A metallic green bee appears to be climbing headfirst into a hole in some reddish-tan wood.

Where Do Pollinators Go in the Winter?

Most native bee species will spend the winter in the nests that their mothers provisioned. In fact, just like bears, many pollinators hibernate through the winter—and they may need a little help to survive until spring.

A monarch, with its wings folded, showing the duller orange side, clings to a rough tree trunk in a dimly-lit landscape.

Early Thanksgiving Counts Show a Critically Low Monarch Population in California

The California overwintering population has been reduced to less than 0.5% of its historical size, and has declined by 86% compared to 2017.

Red-and-green apples are clustered on a tree branch.

Celebrate Invertebrates During National Apple Month

No matter how you obtain your apples—whether you pick them yourself, grab them at the grocery store, or go bobbing for them—it is important to take a moment to remember the pollinators and beneficial insects that make this delicious harvest possible.

A bumble bee sits atop a conical spire of small white flowers.

The Endangered Species Act Needs Your Help!

The Endangered Species Act is our nation’s most effective law for protecting animals and plants in danger of extinction, and it has prevented 99% of listed species from going extinct. We need your voice to help defend this crucial law.

Xerces Society + Bee City USA = A Match Made in Pollinator Heaven

Bee City USA brings a unique approach that encourages cities and college campuses across the United States to develop and implement a plan for helping pollinators.

Surprising Results from a Survey of Bumble Bee Watch Users

This past February, Bumble Bee Watch users were invited to take a survey run by York University researchers to learn more about participant demographics, motives, and confidence with bumble bee identification.

A lawn bursting with violets and dandelions provides color for humans to enjoy and pollen for our bee friends.

Bee Friendlier with Your Lawncare

If you’re ready to re-think your lawn, read on for practical advice and small changes that can help support pollinators and a healthier planet.

A western monarch rests on a white flower amid a dry, grassy field.

Managing for Monarchs in the West

A new guide to protecting the monarch butterfly from the Pacific to the Rockies presents a holistic approach to monarch conservation.

Leafcutter bee on a red and yellow blanketflower.

10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

Here are some ways you can work to promote a healthy planet for invertebrates and the people they let share their planet.

A red dragonfly perches atop a green leaf in a garden. A bit of blurred siding is visible in the background, indicating it is close to a house.

How Our Gardening Choices Affect the Health of Our Waterways

Pesticide Program Director Aimee Code shares thoughts on her garden, information about pesticide impacts to our watershed, and news about upcoming Xerces projects in this article from Wings Magazine.

A lone monarch in shadow perches atop fluffy, pink blossoms.

Very Low Numbers of Monarchs Overwintering in California may Reflect an Unusual Fall

Unusual fall weather may have contributed to the lowest overwintering western monarch population recorded since 2012.

A small, orangish-brown butterfly perches on a sprig of grayish-purple lavender.

Staff Stories: Life in the Suburbs

Our Communications Director Matthew Shepherd shares stories of creating a mini wildlife sanctuary in his Portland, OR garden, and the many plant/insect interactions that have brought his family so much enjoyment in a suburban space.

Sran Family Orchards: The First Bee Better Certified Farm

Sran Family Orchards, the world’s largest grower of organic almonds, has long committed to sustainable farming, with flower-rich pollinator habitat as an integral part of the almond orchards. This investment recently paid off when Sran Family Orchards gained certification as a Bee Better Certified grower.

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