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!
Find Publications
Use the search functions to sort by publication type (books, guidelines, fact sheets, etc.), location, and/or subject (agriculture, gardens, pollinators, pesticides, etc.).
Essays on Invertebrate Conservation
Much of Xerces’ work is focused on habitat, which is central to successful conservation efforts. When habitat disappears from our urban and rural landscapes, so too does the rich diversity of invertebrates that underpin a healthy environment.
This guide is an introduction to milkweeds and monarchs in the western U.S., from basic biology to the importance of these species in the landscape and the threats they currently face. Milkweeds and Monarchs in the Western U.S. outlines how land managers can join existing efforts to help western monarchs by identifying and reporting milkweed stands and monarch breeding occurrences on their lands.
Although the name milkweed implies that the plants are indeed weeds, they are a diverse group of native wildflowers that are not listed as noxious weeds in any state or at the federal level in the U.S. Please read this fact sheet for even more information.
This fact sheet answers some frequently-asked questions regarding roadsides as habitat for pollinators.
International Environmental Law Project Report
The Xerces Society partnered with the International Environmental Law Project of the Lewis and Clark Law School to complete a review of the legal status of monarch butterflies in California, including summaries of any state, regional, or local regulations that pertain to the protection of monarch butterflies.
Literature Review
This technical literature review, produced for the Federal Highway Administration with ICF International, includes a thorough treatment on the status of pollinators, causes of decline, potential mitigation efforts, habitat restoration and management for pollinators, and applications to roadsides.
Essays on Invertebrate Conservation
The Spring 2014 issue of Wings Magazine sheds light on two very different and largely understudied groups of invertebrates—marine species impacted by oil spills and arachnids.
Essays on Invertebrate Conservation
The Spring 2013 issue of Wings Magazine is dedicated to change, with articles on metamorphosis, citizen scientists monitoring environmental events, and our efforts to protect a rare butterfly in a changing landscape.
Essays on Invertebrate Conservation
The essays in this issue of Wings Magazine focus on declining species, including stories of conservation success, nationwide citizen action, and dogged sleuthing—all in the cause of protecting invertebrates.
