Terrestrial invertebrates are the most biodiverse group of animals, yet many species are facing declines. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) conserves and manages declining invertebrates in California, but most remain understudied. To help meet this challenge, CDFW maintains a Terrestrial and Vernal Pool Invertebrates of Conservation Priority List (TVPICP List). The TVPICP list is a subset of the Special Animals List and identifies invertebrate species of conservation concern. Taking species on the list for scientific, educational or propagation purposes requires a Scientific Collecting Permit (SCP) from CDFW. In this talk, we will define the TVPICP List, describe why it is important, and highlight some species on it. An updated TVPICP List based upon the most up-to-date available information goes into effect in January, but many species on it are still poorly understood. Of the 265 invertebrate species and subspecies on the revised list, over 40% have one or zero records in the California Natural Biodiversity Database. However, we know that additional records occur in other biodiversity portals or museum collections. By collating those records and documenting current field observations, we continue our efforts to better understand distributions and inform terrestrial invertebrate conservation priorities in California.

Dylan grew up in the prairies of Dallas. He studied ecology for his bachelor's at the University of Texas at Austin. He worked as a wildlife technician after school with birds, tortoises, and bees. In 2022, he started working as a scientific aid with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on the California Bumble Bee Atlas project, and now works on the Bats and white-nose syndrome monitoring team. He enjoys birdwatching, botanizing, gardening, and playing with cats in his free time.