The Xerces Society's evidence-based approach to advancing protection and conservation of endangered invertebrates

The Xerces Society is an international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. Endangered species specialists work closely with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on various conservation concerns. In this presentation, Rich Hatfield and Sarina Jepsen will highlight pivotal efforts to advance the protection of imperiled insect species through legal advocacy, policy reform, and community science. Their work includes landmark achievements such as securing the first listings of seven Hawaiian Hylaeus species, the rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin’s bumble bee, the monarch butterfly, and the Bethany Beach firefly under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). At the state level, they will also address innovative legal strategies to protect insects under the California Endangered Species Act—most notably a precedent-setting case that confirmed bees could be protected as "fish" under a California statute that went to the CA Supreme Court. Through the “Insects are Wildlife” campaign, they advocate for state wildlife agencies nationwide to recognize insects as wildlife and include them in conservation mandates. Further, case studies, such as the Bumble Bee Atlas, demonstrate how citizen science data informs threat assessments, tracks occupancy trends, and supports federal ESA listing decisions, underscoring the role of public engagement and data-driven advocacy in insect conservation. Together, these efforts represent a growing, multifaceted movement to secure meaningful policy actions for insects and integrate them fully into conservation frameworks at both state and national levels.