Xerces Society

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).^[2]

Xerces Society

Named after	Xerces blue
Founded	1951 (74 years ago) (1951)
Founder	Robert Michael Pyle[1]
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 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.^[3] 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,^[4] 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.^[5]

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.^[6]

Initiatives

Bee City USA

The Xerces Society started the Bee City USA program to encourage cities to encourage native pollinators by planting more native plants, providing more pollinator habitats, and limiting unnecessary pesticide spraying.^[7]

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.^[8]

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

College	Date	Reference
Cal Poly Humboldt	2024	[9]
Utah State University	2023	[10]
University of Montana	2024	[11]
University of New Hampshire	2024	[12]
Indiana University Kokomo	2024	[13]
West Virginia University	2024	[14]
UC San Diego	2024	[15]
Catawba College	2024	[16]

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. ^[17]

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 2017-12-02. Retrieved 2017-12-01.