Xerces Society

Xerces Society
Named afterXerces blue
FoundedDecember 9, 1971 (54 years ago) (1971-12-09)[1]
FounderRobert Michael Pyle[2]
Type501(c)(3) non-profit
51-0175253
Legal statusFoundation
FocusWildlife Conservation
HeadquartersPortland, Oregon
Area served
United States
Methodsresearch, education, litigation
Executive Director
Scott Black
Websitexerces.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] These initiatives often focus on converting monoculture turfgrass into "pollinator lawns" or meadow-like habitats. Research indicates that such transitions are critical for urban nutrient budgeting and biodiversity, as reduced mowing frequencies and the integration of flowering forbs can significantly increase the abundance and richness of bee species compared to conventionally managed lawns.[10]

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.[11]

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

College Date Reference
Cal Poly Humboldt 2024 [12]
Utah State University 2023 [13]
University of Montana 2024 [14]
University of New Hampshire 2024 [15]
Indiana University Kokomo 2024 [16]
West Virginia University 2024 [17]
UC San Diego 2024 [18]
Catawba College 2024 [19]

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. [20]

Publications

See also

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:
  9. ^ Buckley, Cara (October 22, 2025). "Helping to Save the Bees With Plants in Kansas". The New York Times.
  10. ^ Lerman, S. B.; Contosta, A. R.; Milam, J.; Bang, C. (2018). "To mow or to less mow: Lawn mowing frequency affects bee abundance and diversity in suburban yards". Biological Conservation. 221: 160–174. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2018.01.025.
  11. ^ "Bee Campus USA Commitments". Bee City USA. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "Utah State University Becomes an Affiliate of Bee Campus USA". Utah State TODAY. October 6, 2023.
  14. ^ Christian, Peter (June 13, 2024). "University of Montana Creates Buzz Around Pollinator Week". Newstalk KGVO. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  15. ^ Abrusci, Emily (August 8, 2024). "The path to UNH's new Bee Campus Certification". Sustainability. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  16. ^ "Campus sustainability efforts earn distinction, grants". news.iu.edu. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  17. ^ "WVU Today | Building buzz, WVU becomes first new Bee Campus USA affiliate of 2024". wvutoday.wvu.edu. January 25, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  18. ^ "UC San Diego Is Now a Bee Campus. Here's What that Means…". today.ucsd.edu. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  19. ^ "Bee Campus". Catawba College. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  20. ^ "Environmentalists prevail in lawsuit over feds' grasshopper suppression program". courthousenews.com. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wings:_Essays_on_Invertebrate_Conservation