The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
LightNews LightNews
banner
xercessociety.bsky.social
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
@xercessociety.bsky.social
4.3K followers 330 following 260 posts
Science-based invertebrate conservation nonprofit. Protecting the life that sustains us, since 1971. 🦋🐝🪲 linktr.ee/xercessociety
Posts Replies Media Videos
xercessociety.bsky.social
The first, early-season, part of the count ended on Nov 2. So far, we estimate ~5,000 monarchs, with data still coming in. That's fewer than at the same time last year, but we suspect that Oct weather has delayed many butterflies, & more will be arriving soon!
Learn more ➡️ WesternMonarchCount.org
“The First Look at This Year’s Western Monarch Count”. Western Monarch Count staff and participants looking up through binoculars to count monarchs.
November 14, 2025 at 8:36 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Why do cows and bees both want native plants? We made a guide with all the facts. The rangelands we use for livestock can also be home to native wildflowers, shrubs, & of course pollinators!
Get the new guide ➡️ www.xerces.org/publications...
Find all our free resources ➡️ xerces.org/publications
“Discover the Best Wildflowers for Livestock and Pollinators Across the Northern Great Plains” Up close with a dairy cow peering down towards the viewer. Alongside, another photo, of a bee collecting pollen from a wildflower.
November 13, 2025 at 8:04 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
The threats facing invertebrates are serious, & not going away without hard work. Whether you've supported Xerces for 25 years or are new to the team, please consider making a donation to today, so we can continue protecting invertebrates & the places they need to thrive in 2026. ➡️ xerces.org/give
“Help Us Protect Invertebrates for Years To Come” Students working to plant a pollinator garden at a university.
November 12, 2025 at 8:50 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
We are excited to see the amazing research that will come from this year's DeWind and BanDrosky Awards! And yes, you CAN apply for both! (but each person will only win one award at most)

Learn more, see examples of previously funded projects, & apply:
🦋xerces.org/dewind
🪲xerces.org/bandrosky
“Applications are Open for Xerces’ 2026 Student Research Awards”. Up close with an ambush bug as it hides in wait on a purple flower.
November 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Spread the word: we are providing multiple $5k awards for grad & undergrad research on invertebrate conservation !! In addition to our continuing DeWind Award (for Lepidoptera research), we now have the 1st annual BanDrosky Award (for any invert in decline). Details in thread🧵 ⤵️
“Applications are Open for Xerces’ 2026 Student Research Awards”. Up close with an ambush bug as it hides in wait on a purple flower.
November 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
On Oct 28, a male monarch called XOKC005 (does he need a nickname?) was this year's 1st Xerces-tagged butterfly to make it Mexico, but he's already joined by several others!
See their journeys on the Project Monarch app⤵️
🍎iOS: apps.apple.com/us/app/proje...
🤖Android: play.google.com/store/apps/d...
“Monarchs Tagged by Xerces Are Arriving in Mexico” Screenshots from the Project Monarch app, showing the path of one butterfly with the ID number XOKC005 as it flies down from Oklahoma into Mexico.
November 5, 2025 at 9:44 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
When you support Xerces, you are directly contributing to building more pollinator habitat, reducing pesticide use, surveying for rare species, helping people everywhere learn about invertebrates, & more. From the bugs (and us) to you, THANK YOU! 💖🦋
“Your Support Makes Invertebrate Conservation Possible” A Xerces staff member smiling at the pair of butterflies that are resting on a flower she is holding in her hand.
October 29, 2025 at 4:03 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
In 2024, we built pollinator habitat on farms, developed new firefly sanctuaries, gave away over 145k native plants, helped pass laws regulating pesticides & expanding state conservation programs, & so much more. All of this is thanks to your support!
➡️ xerces.org/annual-reports
➡️ xerces.org/donate
“Your Support This Year Has Made a World of Difference for Invertebrates” Volunteers and Xerces staff members planting native plants at a community farm in the Bronx, NYC.
October 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Pennsylvania is 1 of just 12 states whose laws don’t give them the legal authority to conserve insects & other invertebrates. However, a new bill (H.B. 441) would change that, and it passed the state House earlier this month! It is now going to the state senate; stay tuned for updates! 🐝
“At-Risk Insects in Pennsylvania Are One Step Closer to Protection”. A golden northern bumble bee, showing off its bright yellow fuzzy fur, flies away from a purple flower.
October 20, 2025 at 7:44 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
It’s official: monarchs have started arriving at overwintering sites in California! 🌲🦋
That means it's also time for the Western Monarch Count! Each fall, conservationists & community scientists work together to count monarchs.
Learn how to help monarchs recover @ SaveWesternMonarchs.org
“The 2025 Western Monarch Count is Underway” Many monarch butterflies landing atop an evergreen tree at their overwintering site.
October 17, 2025 at 5:43 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Join us for a free 3-day virtual symposium on firefly research & conservation! Each day will include 6 presentations & time for networking. Everyone interested in fireflies is invited! 🪲💡
🗓️Oct 28-30 at 9am PT / 12pm ET
🔗Register for this free event: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
“Virtual Firefly Symposium: Science, Conservation, and Education” A female Florida intertidal firefly perched on a red mangrove leaf at a nature center in Broward County, Florida.
October 10, 2025 at 7:29 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Sylvan’s love for bugs began with playing the video game Grounded with his dad, & turned into a real-life passion. This summer, he ran a lemonade stand to raise money for and teach his community about invertebrate conservation!
🐞 Join Sylvan & host your own fundraiser at xerces.org/fundraise
“Meet Sylvan Mimura, a Young Conservation Champion!” Sylvan, a young child, runs a stand where he is selling lemonade and baked goods to raise money for conservation.
October 6, 2025 at 4:03 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Join us for innovative ways to grow healthy plants without pesticides, from the owner of a native plant nursery! This talk is for nursery owners, growers, IPM leads, & anyone buying plants for a large project.
🗓️Oct 7 at 10am PT / 1pm ET
🔗Register for this free event: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
“Bee Safe, Grow Well: Pollinator-Safe Nursery Practices with Full Circle Gardens”. An insectary strip next to the open-sided greenhouse helps to attract and support beneficial insects at Full Circle Gardens nursery.
September 29, 2025 at 8:56 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
This year, volunteers broke participation records during the 9th edition of the #MonarchBlitz! Check out the incredible snapshot of milkweed plants and monarch butterflies across North America, as collected by all of you! 🌱🦋
👉Learn more at monarchblitz.org
“From 25 July to 3 August 2025, more than 9,000 participants across Canada, Mexico and the US contributed more than 19,000 observations, reporting over 71,000 milkweed plants and more than 33,000 monarchs! Learn more at monarchblitz.org” A map of North America, showing the amount of sightings of milkweed flowers and monarch butterflies by Monarch Blitz participants.
September 25, 2025 at 7:33 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Where do bumble bees build their homes? Where do they spend the winter? And how do you protect bumble bees if their nests * overwintering sites are almost impossible to find? Join us to get all the answers! 🐝
🗓️Oct 2 at 10am PT / 1pm ET
🔗Register for this free event: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
“The Secret Lives of Bumble Bees: Nesting and Overwintering” A bumble bee emerging from its burrow in the ground.
September 23, 2025 at 6:37 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Researchers at Xerces & @unevadareno.bsky.social tested the plants butterflies use in two major cities—nearly all had pesticides, many at lethal levels. Every step to reduce pesticide use is a win.
Learn more ➡️ xerces.org/news/organiz...
Find safer alternatives to pesticides ➡️ xerces.org/pesticides
“Researchers Find Widespread Pesticides on Urban Butterfly Plants” A monarch butterfly feeding from a pink milkweed flower in an urban garden.
September 18, 2025 at 5:25 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Job Title: Freshwater Mussel Conservation Biologist
🌎Location: Based in Pacific Northwest, preferably NW Oregon or SW Washington
💲Compensation: $62,857 per year
📅Application deadline: Open until filled

Learn more and apply at recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/J...
August 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
“Spray first, ask questions later”? Not anymore!

Last week, a federal judge in Oregon confirmed the legal duty of APHIS to consider preventive measures in its program, rather than blindly spraying insecticides on millions of acres of public land across 17 western states.

xerces.org/press/court-...
August 26, 2025 at 4:04 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
In this episode, we will be taking a closer look at the monarch butterfly, but we won’t be talking about milkweed or nectar plants, or the migration and overwintering sites – at least, not directly. No, our focus is on pesticides and monarchs. 🦋🌸🦋

Audio & transcript 🔗 xerces.org/bug-banter/m...
August 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Just like us, caterpillars need to eat! These super plants are habitat hotspots for western butterfly and moth caterpillars! 🦋🌸🦋

xerces.org/blog/these-s...

#wildlife #wildlifeconservation #conservation #bugs #invertebrates #nature #wildlife #science #butterfly #butterflies #savethebutterflies
August 14, 2025 at 4:05 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
How are U.S. bee species faring in light of the major threats they're facing? 🐝
Join our bee experts for this overview of which bees are safe and which are struggling, and how we are studying those questions!
🗓️Aug 14 at 10am PT / 1pm ET
🔗Register for this free event: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
“The State of the Bees” A bumble bee feeding on a yellow flower.
August 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
We almost forgot to post about tomorrow's event here on Bsky (sorry!), but there's still time to register!
Join us to learn some practical steps you can take to create high-quality habitat for monarchs!
🗓️Jul 31 at 10am PT / 1pm ET
🔗Register for this free event: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
“Monarchs and Pesticides: Understanding the Risks, Creating High-Quality Habitat” A monarch butterfly feeding on the nectar of a yellow flower.
July 30, 2025 at 8:32 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
This #NationalMothWeek, help the pollinators on the night shift!
🦋Avoid pesticide use in your garden
🌸Plant a diversity of native plants
💡Reduce artificial lighting at night
🍂Leave a little wild space for moths to shelter and grow
Get started at xerces.org/resources
“How You Can Protect Moths and Other Nighttime Pollinators” A white-lined sphinx moth hovering in front of a pink flower.
July 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
There were already reasons to suspect pesticides for the death of hundreds of monarchs at an overwintering site in 2024, but our new research provides clear evidence of what happened. Each monarch had, on average, 7 different pesticides, many at lethal doses. ➡️ xerces.org/press/study-...
“Study Links Pesticides to Monarch Butterfly Deaths at Overwintering Sanctuary” Many monarchs lying fallen on the ground, in the process of dying.
July 23, 2025 at 7:31 PM
xercessociety.bsky.social
Join our team & help protect monarch butterflies in Texas! 🦋

Job Title: Pollinator Conservation Specialist, NRCS Partner Biologist, Texas
🌎Location: Hybrid remote near Temple, TX
💲Compensation: $62,857/yr, $2,619 paid semi-monthly
❗Apply by: August 11, 2025
recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/J...
“We’re Hiring! Pollinator Conservation Specialist, NRCS Partner Biologist, Texas”
July 22, 2025 at 7:51 PM