At the Xerces Society, one thing that unites all of us—staff, donors, collaborators—is a love for insects or other invertebrates. In this issue of Wings, the articles explore the natural history of two diverse and often misunderstood groups, wasps and grasshoppers, and one intriguing moth from New Zealand.
In the Middle of a Maelstrom, by Scott Black.
Wasp Rehabilitation Tour, by Rae Powers and Jennifer Hopwood. Wasps may not win a popularity contest, but they are hugely important in our environment—and they are fascinating insects.
The Ghost of New Zealand, by Bruce G. Marcot. With bright-red eyes glinting in the darkness and a caterpillar stage that spends several years inside a tree, New Zealand’s puriri is an unusual moth.
The Joy of Grasshoppers, by Angela Laws. Walk in a prairie and grasshoppers will jump around you. By eating—and by being eaten—they are as integral to the prairie as the grass itself.
Partner Spotlight: Agencies, tribes, and volunteers join with Xerces to protect freshwater mussels.
Staff Profile: Meet Melissa Manuel, donor engagement specialist.
Xerces News: Updates on Xerces Society projects and successes.