The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
LightNews LightNews
banner
xercessociety.bsky.social
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
@xercessociety.bsky.social
4.3K followers 330 following 270 posts
Science-based invertebrate conservation nonprofit. Protecting the life that sustains us, since 1971. 🦋🐝🪲 linktr.ee/xercessociety
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
xercessociety.bsky.social
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · Nov 8
Hi! We're a conservation nonprofit focused on invertebrates: animals like bees, butterflies, & other often overlooked but vital parts of the ecosystem! We..
🐝Help people learn about bugs
🦋Protect endangered species
🌾Fight pesticide overuse
🌼Build & restore habitat
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgH8...
The Xerces Society: Protecting the Life that Sustains Us
YouTube video by Xerces Society
www.youtube.com
xercessociety.bsky.social
#GivingTuesday is next week, December 2nd! Donating is just one of many ways you can help. Read on for our list of actions you can take this Giving Tuesday to help invertebrates & other wildlife in your community. 💖🦋
xerces.org/blog/giving-...
Giving Tuesday: A Day To Do Good
This is a chance to take action for the causes that are most meaningful in our hearts. We hope you’ll consider supporting Xerces!
xerces.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
celltracktech.bsky.social
A scientific milestone once considered impossible.
Huge gratitude to all of our partners from 2023 to today: #CMPASC, #MotusWTS, @birdscanada.bsky.social, @xercessociety.bsky.social and the incredible community of researchers who made this dream real. We've only just begun! 🦋
(Article @nytimes.com)
November 20, 2025 at 8:34 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Join Xerces and help our audience learn about invertebrates!

Job Title: Communications Specialist, Graphic Design & Content Marketing
🌎Location: Remote (USA)
💲Compensation: $32.34/hr; approx. $67,267/yr
📅Application deadline: Dec 7

Learn more and apply at xerces.org/jobs
“We’re Hiring! Communications Specialist, Graphic Design & Content Marketing”
November 24, 2025 at 10:49 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
As a nonprofit, the Xerces Society relies on our community to keep our work going. One easy way you can help Xerces prepare for 2026 is hosting a fundraiser! It can be as simple as adding a link to your Facebook or Instagram page. Read on for how to get started ⤵️
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.
xerces.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:03 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
New research found that pesticides are widespread on the plants caterpillars need to grow up on. On this #BugBanterPodcast, learn where this contamination is coming from & how to reduce the risks!
Video w/ captions 📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JNf...
Audio & transcript 📻⤵️
xerces.org/bug-banter/h...
Hidden in Plain Sight: Pesticide Contamination in Butterfly Host Plants | Bug Banter Podcast
The State of the Butterflies in the United States project demonstrated that butterfly populations across the US are dramatically declining: they fell by more than 20% between the year 2000 and 2020. T...
xerces.org
November 18, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
celltracktech.bsky.social
The Xerces Society is made up of some of the best invertebrate researchers and conservationists. We are so excited to work with them whenever we can- and so glad that they are an integral part of the #ProjectMonarch Collaboration!
xercessociety.bsky.social The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 8d
Discover the incredible full story of Project Monarch, a collaborative project by @celltracktech.bsky.social, Cape May Point Arts & Science Center, and 20+ partners including Xerces!
🦋 xerces.org/press/revolu...

📡 Hear from the CTT team in coverage by @nytimes.com ➡️ www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/s...
“Revolutionary Tracking Study Follows Monarch Butterflies From Canada to Mexico” A map of eastern North America, showing the tracked paths of many different monarch butterflies as they fly down towards Mexico.
November 17, 2025 at 8:35 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Discover the incredible full story of Project Monarch, a collaborative project by @celltracktech.bsky.social, Cape May Point Arts & Science Center, and 20+ partners including Xerces!
🦋 xerces.org/press/revolu...

📡 Hear from the CTT team in coverage by @nytimes.com ➡️ www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/s...
“Revolutionary Tracking Study Follows Monarch Butterflies From Canada to Mexico” A map of eastern North America, showing the tracked paths of many different monarch butterflies as they fly down towards Mexico.
November 17, 2025 at 8:09 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
The first, early-season, part of the count ended on Nov 2. So far, we estimate ~5,000 monarchs, with data still coming in. That's fewer than at the same time last year, but we suspect that Oct weather has delayed many butterflies, & more will be arriving soon!
Learn more ➡️ WesternMonarchCount.org
“The First Look at This Year’s Western Monarch Count”. Western Monarch Count staff and participants looking up through binoculars to count monarchs.
November 14, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
climate-disconnect.bsky.social
This is one of the nonprofits we donate to. It's the leading advocate for pollinators and other invertebrates, which are so crucial to the health of our ecosystems. Xerces provides a wealth of resources on habitat protection for farmers, landowners, park managers, and homeowners. Highly recommended.
xercessociety.bsky.social The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 13d
The threats facing invertebrates are serious, & not going away without hard work. Whether you've supported Xerces for 25 years or are new to the team, please consider making a donation to today, so we can continue protecting invertebrates & the places they need to thrive in 2026. ➡️ xerces.org/give
“Help Us Protect Invertebrates for Years To Come” Students working to plant a pollinator garden at a university.
November 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Why do cows and bees both want native plants? We made a guide with all the facts. The rangelands we use for livestock can also be home to native wildflowers, shrubs, & of course pollinators!
Get the new guide ➡️ www.xerces.org/publications...
Find all our free resources ➡️ xerces.org/publications
“Discover the Best Wildflowers for Livestock and Pollinators Across the Northern Great Plains” Up close with a dairy cow peering down towards the viewer. Alongside, another photo, of a bee collecting pollen from a wildflower.
November 13, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
xercessociety.bsky.social
The threats facing invertebrates are serious, & not going away without hard work. Whether you've supported Xerces for 25 years or are new to the team, please consider making a donation to today, so we can continue protecting invertebrates & the places they need to thrive in 2026. ➡️ xerces.org/give
“Help Us Protect Invertebrates for Years To Come” Students working to plant a pollinator garden at a university.
November 12, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
bug-gwen.bsky.social
Pls share with grads and undergrads! Multiple grant opportunities from @xercessociety.bsky.social
Deadline is January 7, 2026.
xercessociety.bsky.social The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 15d
Spread the word: we are providing multiple $5k awards for grad & undergrad research on invertebrate conservation !! In addition to our continuing DeWind Award (for Lepidoptera research), we now have the 1st annual BanDrosky Award (for any invert in decline). Details in thread🧵 ⤵️
“Applications are Open for Xerces’ 2026 Student Research Awards”. Up close with an ambush bug as it hides in wait on a purple flower.
November 13, 2025 at 1:13 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
The threats facing invertebrates are serious, & not going away without hard work. Whether you've supported Xerces for 25 years or are new to the team, please consider making a donation to today, so we can continue protecting invertebrates & the places they need to thrive in 2026. ➡️ xerces.org/give
“Help Us Protect Invertebrates for Years To Come” Students working to plant a pollinator garden at a university.
November 12, 2025 at 8:50 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Spread the word: we are providing multiple $5k awards for grad & undergrad research on invertebrate conservation !! In addition to our continuing DeWind Award (for Lepidoptera research), we now have the 1st annual BanDrosky Award (for any invert in decline). Details in thread🧵 ⤵️
“Applications are Open for Xerces’ 2026 Student Research Awards”. Up close with an ambush bug as it hides in wait on a purple flower.
November 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Did you know that bees and flies (yes, flies!) are responsible for pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, many delicious soups, and other classic fall flavors? 🐝🪰🎃
Get to know these incredible pollinators ⤵️
xerces.org/blog/meet-in...
Meet the Insects That Pollinate Your Favorite Fall Foods
Let's appreciate the hard work that makes the fall harvest possible.
xerces.org
November 6, 2025 at 9:30 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
On Oct 28, a male monarch called XOKC005 (does he need a nickname?) was this year's 1st Xerces-tagged butterfly to make it Mexico, but he's already joined by several others!
See their journeys on the Project Monarch app⤵️
🍎iOS: apps.apple.com/us/app/proje...
🤖Android: play.google.com/store/apps/d...
“Monarchs Tagged by Xerces Are Arriving in Mexico” Screenshots from the Project Monarch app, showing the path of one butterfly with the ID number XOKC005 as it flies down from Oklahoma into Mexico.
November 5, 2025 at 9:44 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
On this #BugBanterPodcast —OK, snails aren’t bugs, but they definitely have Bug Energy! Discover how snails adapted to the mountains, how scientists study them, & the conservation challenges they face!🐌
Video w/ captions🔗 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppZ3...
Audio & transcript⤵️
xerces.org/bug-banter/a...
Adaptations at Altitude: The Biology of Mountain Snails | Bug Banter Podcast
Given the name of our podcast, it is no surprise that we talk a lot about bugs, but in this episode, we are stretching our invertebrate muscles and looking at a group of invertebrates that we haven’t ...
xerces.org
November 4, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
swamplily.bsky.social
Make sure to check out our science & conservation policy symposium at the upcoming ESA meeting! We've got a great lineup of speakers focusing on new methods for insect biodiversity monitoring & how entomologists can engage w/ policymaking. Join us! @entsocamerica.bsky.social bit.ly/SysEBPolicyS...
Advocating for Insect Conservation within a Changing Political Landscape; Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting; Oregon Convention Center, Portland Ballroom 251, OCC; Tuesday, November 11, 2025 | 2:00pm-5:15pm PST; SysEB Section Symposium; Introductory Remarks (15 min); 2:00-2:15pm; Vaughn Shirey, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida; Dave Wagner, University of Connecticut; From Droppings to Data: eDNA Metabarcoding for Use in Insect Monitoring (30 min); 2:15pm-2:45pm; Lillian Hendrick, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida; Mothbox: Open Source, Low Cost, Insect Monitoring at Scale (30 min); 2:45pm-3:15pm; Andy Quitmeyer, Digital Naturalism Laboratories; The Xerces Society's Evidence-Based Approach to Advancing Protection and Conservation of Endangered Invertebrates (30 min); 3:15pm-3:45pm; Rich Hatfield, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation; Break: 3:45-3:55pm (10 min); Panel: How Entomologists Can Engage with Science Policy Today; 3:55pm-5:10pm (5 min intro per panelist, 55 min discussion); Dominique Carter (moderator), Lewis-Burke Associates LLC; Kevin Burls, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation; Sarina Jepson, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation; Jess Tyler, Center for Biological Diversity; Closing Remarks (5 min); 5:10pm-5:15pm; Vaughn Shirey, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida; Dave Wagner, University of Connecticut
November 3, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
gabrownie.bsky.social
From #herps to #insects, #birds, & #mammals, the leaf layer is more than just nature’s carpet - it’s a sanctuary, food source, & protective shield. These critically important pieces of microhabitat are entirely removed when we throw away our yard leaves. #LeaveTheLeaves

📸 @xercessociety.bsky.social
A picture with a background of various colors of fall leaves by @xercessociety.bsky.social with the words: Leaves are not litter. They're food and shelter for butterflies, beetles, bees, moths, and more. Tell friends and neighbors to just #LeaveTheLeaves. xerces.org
November 4, 2025 at 2:31 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Yes, you can go see the wonder of monarch migration in person! 🌲🦋👀
Several overwintering groves are open to the public! We have a guide of our favorite sites, what to bring, when to go, & how to keep monarchs safe during your visit ⤵️
Everything You Need To Know About Visiting Overwintering Monarchs
A remarkable phenomenon unfolds along the California coast each fall — and you can witness it yourself!
xerces.org
October 30, 2025 at 4:02 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
When you support Xerces, you are directly contributing to building more pollinator habitat, reducing pesticide use, surveying for rare species, helping people everywhere learn about invertebrates, & more. From the bugs (and us) to you, THANK YOU! 💖🦋
“Your Support Makes Invertebrate Conservation Possible” A Xerces staff member smiling at the pair of butterflies that are resting on a flower she is holding in her hand.
October 29, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
bug-gwen.bsky.social
I gave a lunchtime talk as a @xercessociety.bsky.social Ambassador to the local County Parks group, and the cookies had bees on them! Unsurprisingly, it was a friendly audience 😀🐝
Here's a fantastic resource I shared on creating nesting and overwintering habitat: xerces.org/publications...
A hexagon shaped sugar cookie with golden frosting, and a black bee stenciled on top
October 26, 2025 at 10:32 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Good news: the bugs that eat pests in your yard also use fallen leaves to survive the winter!
In general, leaving leaves where they fall is the right move. But there are a few situations where removing (or just moving) plant material from your yard is the right move ⤵️
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!
xerces.org
October 24, 2025 at 5:03 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
In 2024, we built pollinator habitat on farms, developed new firefly sanctuaries, gave away over 145k native plants, helped pass laws regulating pesticides & expanding state conservation programs, & so much more. All of this is thanks to your support!
➡️ xerces.org/annual-reports
➡️ xerces.org/donate
“Your Support This Year Has Made a World of Difference for Invertebrates” Volunteers and Xerces staff members planting native plants at a community farm in the Bronx, NYC.
October 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Bumble bees like to be mysterious about their homes, but we’ve got all the hidden facts for you! Join us on this #BugBanterPodcast to discover what these bees are up to when they leave your flowers!🏡🐝
Audio & transcript 📻 xerces.org/bug-banter/s...
Video w/ captions 📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAJE...
The Secret Lives of Bumble Bees: Nesting and Overwintering | Bug Banter Podcast
We’ve all heard the familiar buzz of a bumble bee. Their fuzzy bodies fly around looking for pollen and nectar. But where do bumble bees nest? Where do they spend the winter? And how can we support th...
xerces.org
October 21, 2025 at 5:33 PM