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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Use the search functions to sort by publication type (books, guidelines, fact sheets, etc.), location, and/or subject (agriculture, gardens, pollinators, pesticides, etc.).
How to Protect Yourself Without Harming Pollinators
This brochure discusses the risks posed by backyard mosquito sprays and covers simple and environmentally friendly practices to effectively manage mosquitoes instead of using insecticides.
AVOIDING HIDDEN RISKS
Many producers strive to provide pollinator-safe plants, but may be unknowingly substituting other risky insecticides or using fungicides detrimental to pollinators. In this fact sheet, Xerces suggests which insecticides to avoid altogether and which to refrain from use on pollinator-attractive plants during the last two weeks before sale.
Essays on Invertebrate Conservation
We all have times when it is nice to turn our attention to positive stories. We hope you find the articles in this issue of Wings as uplifting as we do: discovering otherworldly sea slugs in tidepools; ways that you can help wildlife in your neighborhood; and eye-opening research into Monarch butterflies at overwintering sites. Enjoy.
Guidance for Vermont Growers During Planting
Insecticide-treated seeds can expose pollinators, birds, freshwater invertebrates, and other wildlife through dust drift during planting, movement into soil and water, uptake into nearby plants, and consumption of spilled or visible seeds. When planting insecticide-treated seeds, take steps to reduce off-site movement and lower risks to wildlife. Integrated pest management (IPM) approaches such as scouting, monitoring, crop rotation, and threshold-based decision making can also help to inform use of insecticide-treated seeds, which are often planted even when pest risk is low.
Bees are difficult to identify to species or family without having pinned specimens. But bee richness at a site can be measured by identifying bees to groups based on their morphology (also known as morphogroups), which use characteristics that can be seen in the field to categorize bees.
Letrero bilingüe para jardín
Are you mowing less and adding native flowers to your lawn or field to feed the bees? Designed for Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA affiliates, but available for public use, this two-sided Low Mow Zone sign can help educate the public and ensure your site is correctly maintained.
This regional list of monarch nectar plants is geared toward gardeners, landscape designers, and land managers who are implementing small- to large-scale monarch restoration projects in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.
Pollinators are essential to the health of our environment and for bountiful farm crops. There are four straightforward steps that you can take to help them: grow flowers, provide nest sites, avoid pesticides, and share the word.
Most butterflies are difficult to identify to species in flight or at a distance while walking a transect during a site monitoring. But butterfly richness at a site can be measured by identifying and monitoring butterflies to their families based on their morphology, using common characteristics that can be quickly recognized in the field.
Grasslands are important to insects, and insects are important to grasslands
Grasslands offer sweeping vistas that capture people’s hearts and are celebrated in movies and literature. They are also home to important invertebrates that support wildlife and livestock by pollinating plants, recycling nutrients, decomposing plant and animal waste, controlling pests, improving soil health, and more.