Xerces Society

Xerces Society

Named after	Xerces blue
Founded	December 9, 1971(53 years ago) (1971-12-09) [1]
Founder	Robert Michael Pyle [2]
Type	501(c)(3) non-profit
Tax ID no.	51-0175253
Legal status	Foundation
Focus	Wildlife Conservation
Headquarters	Portland, Oregon
Area served	United States
Methods	research, education, litigation
Executive Director	Scott Black
Website	xerces.org

Samples of the extinct Glaucopsyche xerces butterfly in the collections of the Field Museum of Natural History

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation (Xerces Society) is a non-profit environmental organization that focuses on the conservation of invertebrates considered to be essential to biological diversity and ecosystem health. It is named in honor of an extinct California butterfly, the Xerces blue (Glaucopsyche xerces). ^[3]

The Society collaborates with federal and state agencies including the US Department of Agriculture, as well as scientists, land managers, educators, and citizens to promote invertebrate conservation, applied research, advocacy, public outreach and education. ^[4] Examples of Xerces Society activities include advocating for invertebrates and their habitats, petitioning for the designation of endangered status for applicable species such as the monarch butterfly, ^[5] and public education projects. Ongoing projects include the rehabilitation of habitat for endangered species, public education about the importance of native pollinators, and the restoration and protection of watersheds. ^[6]

The organization was founded by butterfly scientist Robert Michael Pyle from Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and was reincorporated with the Oregon Secretary of State on April 14, 1988. ^[7]

Initiatives

Bee City USA

The Xerces Society initiated its Bee City USA program in 2018 to encourage cities to encourage native pollinators by planting more native plants, providing more pollinator habitats, and limiting unnecessary pesticide spraying. ^[8] These measures benefit pollinating species such as native bees, moths, beetles, flies, and butterflies. ^[9]

Bee Campus USA

The Xerces Society started the Bee Campus USA program to include pollinator gardens in communities and campuses to provide habitats for local pollinators. ^[10]

The following colleges and universities participate in the Bee Campus USA program.

College	Date	Reference
Cal Poly Humboldt	2024	[11]
Utah State University	2023	[12]
University of Montana	2024	[13]
University of New Hampshire	2024	[14]
Indiana University Kokomo	2024	[15]
West Virginia University	2024	[16]
UC San Diego	2024	[17]
Catawba College	2024	[18]

Litigation

In August 2024, the Xerces Society and Center for Biological Diversity won a lawsuit against the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) over its widespread use of pesticides to address grasshopper and cricket infestations over millions of acres across 17 western states. ^[19]

Publications

• Publications Library
• Borders, Brianna; Lee–Mäder, Eric (2014). "Milkweeds: A Conservation Practitioner's Guide: Plant Ecology, Seed Production Methods, and Habitat Restoration Opportunities" (PDF). Portland, Oregon: The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 4, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
• Mader, Eric; Shepherd, Mathew; Vaughan, Mace; Black, Scott Hoffman; LeBuhn, Gretchen (2011). Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America's Bees and Butterflies: The Xerces Society guide. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. ISBN   9781603427470. LCCN   2010043054. OCLC   776997073 . Retrieved July 7, 2021– via Internet Archive.
• The Xerces Society (2016). 100 Plants to Feed the Bees: Provide a Healthy Habitat to Help Pollinators Thrive. Storey Publishing. ISBN   978-1-6121-2701-9. LCCN   2016017164. OCLC   946579610. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.

See also

• Buglife
• Bumblebee Conservation Trust

• Butterfly Conservation
• Decline in insect populations

• Insect Week
• Pollinator Partnership

References

1. "Xerces Society". The Xerces Story. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
2. "Distinguished Washington Environmental Writer to Speak at CWU". Central Washington University. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
3. Hunter, Dave; Lightner, Jill (2016). Mason Bee Revolution: How the Hardest Working Bee Can Save the World – One Backyard at a Time. Mountaineers Books. ISBN   9781594859649.
4. "Donate". The Xerces Society For Invertebrate Conservation. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
5. "Monarch Petition" (PDF). Xerces Society For Invertebrate Conservation. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 22, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
6. Cassandra Profita (June 20, 2013). "Xerces Society: Wilsonville Bees Died From Pesticide Poisoning". EarthFix. Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
7. "The Xerces Society". Left Exposed. October 13, 2015. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
8. Multiple sources:
   • "Bee City USA". Portland, Oregon: Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Archived from the original on October 2, 2025. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
   • "About Bee City USA & Bee Campus USA". Bee City USA. Portland, Oregon: Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Archived from the original on September 21, 2025. Retrieved November 15, 2025. In 2018 Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA became initiatives of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation .... The steps that affiliates take to conserve our native bees, including creating safe habitats and hosting community events, will also help other pollinators including butterflies and moths as well as the non-native honey bee.
   • "Bee City USA Commitments". Bee City USA. Portland, Oregon: Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Archived from the original on September 21, 2025. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
   • "Bee City USA affiliates". Bee City USA. Portland, Oregon: Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Archived from the original on September 21, 2025. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
9. Buckley, Cara (October 22, 2025). "Helping to Save the Bees With Plants in Kansas". The New York Times.
10. "Bee Campus USA Commitments". Bee City USA. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
11. "Cal Poly Humboldt Becomes an Affiliate of Bee Campus USA | Humboldt NOW | Cal Poly Humboldt". now.humboldt.edu. June 24, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
12. "Utah State University Becomes an Affiliate of Bee Campus USA". Utah State TODAY. October 6, 2023.
13. Christian, Peter (June 13, 2024). "University of Montana Creates Buzz Around Pollinator Week". Newstalk KGVO. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
14. Abrusci, Emily (August 8, 2024). "The path to UNH's new Bee Campus Certification". Sustainability. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
15. "Campus sustainability efforts earn distinction, grants". news.iu.edu. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
16. "WVU Today | Building buzz, WVU becomes first new Bee Campus USA affiliate of 2024". wvutoday.wvu.edu. January 25, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
17. "UC San Diego Is Now a Bee Campus. Here's What that Means…". today.ucsd.edu. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
18. "Bee Campus". Catawba College. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
19. "Environmentalists prevail in lawsuit over feds' grasshopper suppression program". courthousenews.com. Retrieved January 25, 2025.