As a science-based organization, the Xerces Society produces dozens of publications annually, all of which employ the best available research to guide effective conservation efforts. Our publications range from guidelines for land managers, to brochures offering overviews of key concepts related to invertebrate conservation, from books about supporting pollinators in farmland, to region-specific plant lists. We hope that whatever you are seeking—whether it's guidance on making a home or community garden pollinator-friendly, advice on developing a local pesticide reduction strategy, or detailed information on restoring habitat—you will find it here!
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In the past twenty years, only 15 species of bumble bees have been observed in Nebraska, five fewer species than historically recorded between 1800–2001. The most immediate and productive steps that we can take to conserve these imperiled pollinators is to intentionally manage and restore existing habitat and/ or create additional habitat. The recommendations in this guide combine the latest understanding of bumble bee habitat needs with lessons learned from the Nebraska Bumble Bee Atlas (NEBBA).
(N Extension EC1564)
Nebraska is home to 20 species of bumble bees that play a critical role in sustaining the health of our environment. This pocket guide is intended to aid community scientists in identifying bumble bees without a microscope.
Essays on Invertebrate Conservation
Xerces Society staff share a passion for protecting insects and other invertebrates, but also a fascination with the diverse and intriguing behaviors of the animals that we work with. This issue of Wings looks at some of the ways in which we interact with insects as well as ways that we collaborate with individuals and communities to make conservation a success.
This information sheet has details of the plant species included in the Pollinator Habitat Kits for the Santa Fe (NM) Pollinator Trail.
How to Create Habitat for Stem-Nesting Bees
Help us save the stems for native bees—share this brochure with friends, family, and neighbors. This 1/3-page brochure explains the nesting cycle for solitary stem-nesting bees and how to protect them (and their nests) year-round.
Our donor newsletter that includes news and information about Xerces' programs and conservation work.
A Guide for Site Managers
Firefly tourism is on the rise in the United States. Of the more than 150 species of fireflies that occur in the US, at least five species—including the synchronous fireflies Photinus carolinus and Photuris frontalis—are of tourism interest. While this can be a boon to local economies and help more people to experience the wonder of fireflies, it also presents challenges.
Visitor Etiquette for Sustainable Firefly Tourism
This easy-print Visitor’s Etiquette Guide can be displayed or distributed by site managers and volunteers before events to promote sustainable firefly tourism. Three copies can be printed on a single sheet of letter paper using a small office printer, making it easy to share with participants before and during events.
Also available in Spanish, French, and Simplified Chinese.
Distributions, Threats, and Conservation Recommendations
Anecdotal reports of firefly declines have been on the rise in recent decades. While population declines have been documented for some species in Europe and Asia, the picture was not as clear in North America. With the exception of a few localized studies, no effort had previously been made to assess the conservation status of the 171 described taxa in the United States and Canada.
A collaboration between the Xerces Society, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Bumble bees are important pollinators throughout much of the world, essential to the health of wildlands and natural areas. Yet, bumble bee population declines have been documented from multiple continents. In North America, many species have been considered for listing as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, including several bumble bees in the western United States.