Bug Banter with the Xerces Society

The Xerces Society
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Join us as we explore the fascinating world of invertebrates and discover how to help these extraordinary animals. The Xerces Society is a nationwide non-profit organization that works to conserve invertebrates and their habitats. For more information go to xerces.org.

  1. The Salmonfly Project: Anglers, Insect Conservation, and the Future of Freshwater Streams

    7 OCT

    The Salmonfly Project: Anglers, Insect Conservation, and the Future of Freshwater Streams

    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: mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies. The bad news? They are in decline. The good news? There is something we can do about it. This is a new topic for us and one that we are excited to explore. Joining us to dive into the aquatic world are Jackson Birrell and James Frakes, co-founders of the Salmonfly Project, which is based here in Missoula, Montana and aims to conserve stream insects. Jackson is Executive Director of the Salmonfly Project and is a PhD graduate from the University of Montana, where he studied the factors that shape aquatic insect distributions and the causes of salmonfly declines across the Rockies. James is the Salmonfly Project’s Chief Operations Officer and also a graduate from the University of Montana where he received his Master's degree in Aquatic Ecology. As an avid fly fisher, he is passionate about continuing his research on insect decline and developing projects to save the hatches he knows and loves. --- Photo Credit: Jenny Walker Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

    45 min
  2. Bitter Nectar, Toxic Pollen: Pollinators and Plant Chemicals

    16 SEPT

    Bitter Nectar, Toxic Pollen: Pollinators and Plant Chemicals

    We’ve spent some time on this podcast discussing pollinators and their life histories but today we are taking a deeper dive into plant chemistry to better understand the relationship between pollinators and their floral resources. To help us explore this fascinating topic, is Leif Richardson, Xerces Endangered Species Conservation Biologist. Leif coordinates the California Bumble Bee Atlas project. His research focuses on the ecology, distribution, and declines of North American bumble bees. Leif is also the co-author of a range of scientific publications on bees, including Bumble Bees of North America: An Identification Guide. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Arizona and a PhD from Dartmouth College. --- Photo credit: Barbara Driscoll (c) Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

    43 min
  3. Leave the Leaves or Lose the Insects

    2 SEPT

    Leave the Leaves or Lose the Insects

    **Correction: The study described in this episode states that the total number of insects emerging from a square meter was 18,000. The correct number is 1,800. 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 gardening resource — but also something of a headache. Do I keep them all? Can I mulch them? Won’t they kill my lawn? What about pests? How do I keep my HOA happy? Joining us to take a deeper dive into a pile of leaves, how they help insects, and how to manage them is Max Ferlauto, state entomologist with the Maryland Natural Heritage Program, where he is in charge of rare insect conservation. Before that, Max was undertaking research for his PhD at the University of Maryland, where he studied the impact of leaves (and leaf removal) on insects in gardens as well as on soil health. --- Photo: Steven Severinghaus/Flickr/Creative Commons 2.0 Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

    34 min
  4. Monarchs & Pesticides: Understanding the Impact, Exploring the Solutions

    19 AUG

    Monarchs & Pesticides: Understanding the Impact, Exploring the Solutions

    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. Are pesticides a particular concern for monarch butterflies? What are the consequences of pesticide contamination to their habitat? What can we do to provide pesticide-free habitat? To answer these questions we welcome back Emily May, Agricultural Conservation Lead with the Xerces Pesticide Reduction Program. Emily works with farmers, researchers, conservation professionals, and agencies across the U.S. to reduce pesticide risks to pollinators and other beneficial insects, support the adoption of ecologically sound pest-management practices, and expand high-quality habitat in working lands. She also supports Xerces’ staff by providing technical expertise that helps guide resources, outreach, and policy efforts. --- Photo: Stephanie McKnight/Xerces Society Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

    44 min
  5. Understanding Native Bee Populations: The State of the Bees Initiative

    5 AUG

    Understanding Native Bee Populations: The State of the Bees Initiative

    How are native bee species in the US doing in light of the major threats they are facing? What more do we need to know to protect them? There are over 3,600 species of native bees in the United States, but we only know the conservation status (i.e., how well they are doing) of about 20% of them. This makes it difficult to make decisions about how to prioritize bee conservation.  Joining us to discuss this problem is Saff Killingsworth, Xerces Endangered Species Conservation Biologist. Saff coordinates the State of the Bees initiative, working with researchers and land managers to assess the status of wild bees in the western U.S. and address their conservation needs. She also works to advance conservation of butterflies and fireflies in Arizona.  --- Photo: az3/Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

    40 min
  6. The Living Fence: Hedgerows as Havens for Insects

    15 JUL

    The Living Fence: Hedgerows as Havens for Insects

    Co-host Matthew Shepherd came from Britain, a country known for its hedgerows. He grew up surrounded by hedges, sometimes many centuries old, crisscrossing the countryside. Early in Matthew's career he helped plant, maintain, and restore miles of hedgerows and got to see up close the wealth of wildlife that live in them. When he moved to America, he was struck by the lack of hedgerows, their place in the landscape frequently filled by barbed wire or other types of fencing. He is very happy to know that this is changing and that there is a movement in this country toward planting hedgerows for their beauty, wildlife value, and economic benefits. Joining Matthew in this episode is someone who has been at the forefront of this effort for a decade and a half. Jessa Kay Cruz is a Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist for the Xerces Society in a region covering California and the Intermountain West. Since joining Xerces in 2008, Jessa has worked in agricultural and natural lands to create habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects, and to promote practices that support them. She provides education and technical support to a range of individuals and agencies, including farmers and ranchers, agricultural professionals, and land managers. --- Cover Photo: Sarah Foltz Jordan/Xerces Society Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

    31 min
  7. State of the Butterflies in the United States: A Roadmap for Recovery

    1 JUL

    State of the Butterflies in the United States: A Roadmap for Recovery

    I’m sure it’s not surprising to hear that butterflies are in decline, but the speed at which it is happening may be. Butterflies are being lost at a rate of 1.3% per year, which means more than one-fifth have disappeared over a 20-year period. These are just a couple of the alarming statistics that emerged from the work of the State of the Butterflies in the United States working group. The group was comprised of scientists from universities, agencies, and the Xerces Society. Their findings have been published in academic journals, including Science. Building on this, Xerces has just released State of the Butterflies in the United States, a report authored by members of the working group that presents a picture of the status of butterflies and offers a vision for how we can reverse the declines. To talk with us about the report and what we need to do are Scott Black and Cheryl Shultz. Scott is the executive director of the Xerces Society. His work has resulted in the protection and restoration of habitat on millions of acres of rangelands, forests, and farmland, as well as protection for many endangered species. Cheryl is a professor at Washington State University Vancouver, where she studies the ecology of at-risk species, particularly butterflies of the PNW prairies. Cheryl also is a long-time scientific advisor to the Xerces Society.  --- Photo credit: Candace Fallon/Xerces Society Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

    48 min
  8. Bug Banter Live! Building Pollinator Habitat

    20 JUN

    Bug Banter Live! Building Pollinator Habitat

    One of the most effective ways to contribute to pollinator conservation is to provide the essential components of pollinator habitat. To celebrate Pollinator Week, we invited a panel of Xerces experts to help us answer audience questions in this special Bug Banter Live episode.  Bernardo Niño is a pollinator conservation specialist with Xerces Food Systems and Living Farms Project in California. Steve Armstead is a pollinator conservation and nature-based climate solutions specialist in Colorado. Emily May is the agricultural conservation lead with the Xerces pesticide reduction program. Kevin Burls is an endangered species conservation biologist in the western United States.  --- Cover photo: Emily May Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

    54 min
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Join us as we explore the fascinating world of invertebrates and discover how to help these extraordinary animals. The Xerces Society is a nationwide non-profit organization that works to conserve invertebrates and their habitats. For more information go to xerces.org.

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