Invertebrates form the foundation of many of our terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and yet they are greatly underappreciated in mainstream conservation. Destruction of habitat, pesticides, disease, and climate change are all factors leading to the decline of invertebrate species. To conserve and restore the diversity of life on earth, the Xerces Society’s endangered species conservation program engages in education, research, community science (sometimes referred to as "citizen science," or "participatory science"), conservation planning, and advocacy to protect at-risk species and their habitats. We collaborate with scientists and land managers to raise awareness about the plight of invertebrates and to gain protection for the most vulnerable species before they decline to a level at which recovery is impossible.
Community Science
Everyone is welcome to join these collaborative data-gathering efforts—no technical expertise necessary!
At-Risk Invertebrates
Learn more about the conservation statuses of the animals we seek to protect.
Identification and Field Guides
View guides for identification and further study in the field.
What We're Doing
We're conducting field research, developing habitat management guidance, advocating for protection for key species, and more.
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 migrating monarch can travel over 100 miles in a single day! Learn more lesser-known yet fascinating facts about the annual North American monarch butterfly migration.
Last week the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced that the Morrsion bumble bee (Bombus morrisoni) and the large marble butterfly (Euchloe ausonides) warrant further consideration for protection under the Endangered Species Act by issuing a positive 90-day finding.
