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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 2d

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.

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Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

franz @franzanth.bsky.social · 10d

being nice to bugs is hot

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Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Gwen Pearson @bug-gwen.bsky.social · 10d

Scorpions and tarantulas are some of the most highly trafficked animals -- and the most vulnerable to exploitation. 🦂 🧪 news.mongabay.com/2025/09/cons...

Consider the scorpions

Scorpions are a marvel. Some navigate by the stars and communicate by vibrations. They fluoresce under UV light and can live for decades. Scorpions give birth to live young who cling to their backs, a...

news.mongabay.com

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Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Science Take-Out @sciencetakeout.bsky.social · 4d

Leave the leaves
🍂🐝🍁🐛🍁🪲🍂

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 10d

It’s time for one of the easiest things you can do for wildlife: just #LeaveTheLeaves! Leaves are vital homes & winter shelter! 🐝
🍂 Follow our easy tips & meet the animals you’ll be saving ➡️ xerces.org/blog/leave-t...
🪧 Get your own yard sign, now available in English & Spanish ➡️ xerces.org/gifts

Leave the Leaves!

One of the most valuable ways to support pollinators and other invertebrates is to provide them with the shelter they need to survive the winter. Thankfully, all you need to do is do less yard work.

xerces.org

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 4d

Like rivers & lakes full of fish? Then you need rivers & lakes full of insects!
On this #BugBanterPodcast we'll dive underwater to meet freshwater insects, & discover the conservation work they need!
Audio & transcript 📻 xerces.org/bug-banter/s...
Video w/ captions 📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=22sh...

The Salmonfly Project: Anglers, Insect Conservation, and the Future of Freshwater Streams | Bug Banter Podcast

Insects play a critical role in rivers, lakes, and streams, acting as a vital food source for many animals and maintaining the health of these freshwater ecosystems. A few of these insects include: ma...

xerces.org

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 6d

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.

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 10d

It’s time for one of the easiest things you can do for wildlife: just #LeaveTheLeaves! Leaves are vital homes & winter shelter! 🐝
🍂 Follow our easy tips & meet the animals you’ll be saving ➡️ xerces.org/blog/leave-t...
🪧 Get your own yard sign, now available in English & Spanish ➡️ xerces.org/gifts

Leave the Leaves!

One of the most valuable ways to support pollinators and other invertebrates is to provide them with the shelter they need to survive the winter. Thankfully, all you need to do is do less yard work.

xerces.org

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Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Climate Disconnect @climate-disconnect.bsky.social · 12d

We just had a Xerces partner biologist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service prepare a pollinator conservation plan for our own land. I got a very detailed 45 page report on what we can do to improve our habitat. Check with your local NRCS office to see if you can access this resource.

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 12d

Many of our members are incredible forces for invertebrate conservation in their own right! Today we are spotlighting Michael McIntyre, who has spent the past 25 years converting his family’s suburban lawn into a pollinator paradise!🌼🐝
Discover Michael’s story ⤵️
xerces.org/news/organiz...

Michael McIntyre of Christiansburg, Virginia: From Lawn to Life with a Pollinator Paradise

Xerces member Michael McIntyre has spent the past 25 years converting his family’s suburban lawn into a pollinator paradise.

xerces.org

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 11d

Don't forget to register and join us for tomorrow's free webinar all about bumble bees!

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 19d

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.

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 12d

Many of our members are incredible forces for invertebrate conservation in their own right! Today we are spotlighting Michael McIntyre, who has spent the past 25 years converting his family’s suburban lawn into a pollinator paradise!🌼🐝
Discover Michael’s story ⤵️
xerces.org/news/organiz...

Michael McIntyre of Christiansburg, Virginia: From Lawn to Life with a Pollinator Paradise

Xerces member Michael McIntyre has spent the past 25 years converting his family’s suburban lawn into a pollinator paradise.

xerces.org

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 13d

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.

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 13d

That does sound like a lovely bee habitat! Well done!

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 13d

The short answer is that it is all about pesticides - many plant nurseries sell plants that still have pesticides on them, which can hurt or kill wildlife - give the video a watch and you'll see what we mean!

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Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 16d

How can you make sure the plants you buy are safe for pollinators? And what can nursery growers do to grow plants that won’t harm wildlife? 🌱🌼🐝
We have the answers in our new video, featuring stories and practices from several innovative plant nurseries! ⤵️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcdv...

Growing Pollinator-Safe Plants: What Nurseries Can Do (and How You Can Help)

YouTube video by The Xerces Society

www.youtube.com

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 15d

Previous monarch tags could only be detected by specialized receivers, but this new version uses Bluetooth just like Apple AirTags, giving us a much better picture of the route each monarch takes on its journey! Learn how you can follow along with their migration ⤵️

With Upgraded Transmitters, We Can Now Track Migrating Monarchs Better than Ever

Xerces has been helping to test these new tags for over a year, and we are excited to finally put them into widespread use.

xerces.org

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 16d

How can you make sure the plants you buy are safe for pollinators? And what can nursery growers do to grow plants that won’t harm wildlife? 🌱🌼🐝
We have the answers in our new video, featuring stories and practices from several innovative plant nurseries! ⤵️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcdv...

Growing Pollinator-Safe Plants: What Nurseries Can Do (and How You Can Help)

YouTube video by The Xerces Society

www.youtube.com

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 17d

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.

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 19d

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...

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 24d

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.

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 25d

Plants use more than color to talk to pollinators - there’s a whole world of chemical communication, too! In this #BugBanterPodcast, we dive into the intriguing world of plant chemistry! 🌻🐝
Audio & transcript 🔗
xerces.org/bug-banter/b...
Video w/ captions ⤵️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVpE...

Bitter Nectar, Toxic Pollen: Pollinators and Plant Chemicals

YouTube video by The Xerces Society

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Bee City USA @beecityusa.bsky.social · 26d

Join us on September 30th @ 10 AM PT for a tour of our 2024 renewal report: Buzzing with Biodiversity! We think you will find inspiration for your own community's pollinator conservation and pesticide reduction work.

Register here today! ➡ beecityusa.org/events

#BeeCityUSA #BeeCampusUSA

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · Sep 5

As with comedy, harvesting milkweed seed is all about timing! 🦋🌸🦋

In this blog, we’ll explore some methods of harvesting milkweed seed, separating the truth from the fluff.

How to Collect Seeds From Milkweed: A Pod and a Plan

Harvesting local milkweed seed for later planting is a great way to increase monarch breeding habitat. We'll teach you how to harvest and separate the fluff from the good stuff.

xerces.org

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · Sep 2

Fall is right around the corner! When the weather starts to cool and leaves begin to fall, we’re presented with a valuable wildlife and gardening resource — leaves!🍂🐝🍂

Audio & transcript 🔗
xerces.org/bug-banter/l...
Video w/ captions ⤵️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEwO...

Leave the Leaves or Lose the Insects | Bug Banter Podcast

Leave the leaves has become something of a rallying cry and discussion topic in recent years. When the weather starts to cool and leaves begin to fall, we’re presented with a valuable wildlife and…

xerces.org

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · Aug 28

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...

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · Aug 26

“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-...

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