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.

The recovery of endangered species often relies on extensive research and persistent efforts by enthusiasts, scientists, and governmental organizations. However, some species, such as the San Joaquin Valley giant flower-loving fly (Rhaphiomidas trochilus; SJVF), face significant challenges that leave them at risk of extinction. Once inhabiting inland dunes as far north as Antioch, CA, the SJVF is now only found on a small dune preserve, 15 miles east of Bakersfield, CA. This rare species, one of the largest flies in North America, is difficult to study due to its deep underground larval stage, brief adult lifespan, and limited yearly “flight season” of only 4-7 weeks. These factors, compounded by the species' activity during the hottest part of the year and limited funding or interest, hinder the collection of important natural history data. Without sufficient research, protection, and recovery efforts, the long-term survival of the SJVF remains uncertain. Continued efforts are crucial, as they not only benefit the SJVF but could also support the restoration of other inland sand dune ecosystems and enhance recovery strategies for the federally endangered Delhi Sands flower-loving fly (R. terminatus abdominalis), found in Riverside County, CA.

Bees provide pollination services that influence floral diversity, abundance, and overall ecosystem productivity. Although research exists in agriculture or urban areas, few studies have investigated diversity and abundance of bees in conifer forests of the Pacific Northwest. We present preliminary results from three studies focused on bee occurrence in both forested systems and recently burned fires, explore predictions related to distribution, and highlight opportunities to enhance managed or burned landscapes. We surveyed 202 stands (2020-2023), hand-netting or passive trapping (3-6 occasions/year, >2 years). For bees netted by hand, we recorded the flower the bee was pollinating and followed netting protocols suitable for lab-based pathogen identification and DNA metabarcoding of pollen. We collected and identified ~100,000 bees to species. In the coast range, bee abundance and richness increased in stands where forest canopy had recently been removed through thinning or cut forests. In burned forest, floral richness and diversity decreased with severity. Bee richness and abundance increased with increasing floral resources. Preliminarily, native floral enhancements were effective in burned slash piles and increased bumble bee abundance and diversity. Our data, combined with ongoing efforts by the Oregon Bee Atlas, can help inform elusive bee distributions, floral associations, and restoration actions.

Springsnails are tiny, frequently cryptic, aquatic gastropods that are endemic and adapted to small springs, many with limited distribution. The Pyrgulopsis genus alone may have over 100 species, many of which are recognized as Species of Greatest Conservation Need and several are proposed to be or are currently listed under the Endangered Species Act. Springsnails are found throughout the Great Basin with the largest concentration in Nevada and Utah. There are over 35,000 individual springs in the two states, and determining springsnail presence and species composition is both challenging and critical. With expanding development, increasing groundwater extraction and habitat destruction, there’s growing concern for springsnail persistence. Over the past five years there has been a concentrated effort by several state and federal agencies to answer these questions. Our agency partners used systematic sampling to inventory key springs. We then applied a molecular species delineation approach to identify Pyrgulopsis species and their distribution. The data is then compiled into an accessible database to aid with conservation and management of these important organisms.

Lange’s metalmark butterfly (Apodemia mormo langei) is a federally endangered species that is currently only known to occur at Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge in Contra Costa County, California. Lange’s metalmark is a subspecies of Mormon metalmark butterfly (Apodemia mormo), a species that tends to use native buckwheat species in the genus Eriogonum as its hostplant. The Lange’s metalmark population at Antioch Dunes has been declining since the late 1990’s, and in recent years has been precariously close to extinction. This presentation provides an overview of Lange’s metalmark natural history, and the actions U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been taking to conserve this species. These actions include: working with our partners and external experts to monitor the population status and trends of Lange’s metalmark; conducting habitat restoration and enhancements; conducting invasive plant control; preventing wildfires; reducing air pollution and trash; head-starting and captively propagating Lange’s metalmark; seeding and out-planting of the Lange’s metalmark hostplant, Antioch Dunes buckwheat (Eriogonum nudum var. psychicola); and performing research aimed at filling key knowledge gaps, such as understanding the behavior of male and female butterflies and developing an improved understanding of the conservation genomics of this and nearby populations of Mormon metalmark.

It has previously been thought that only one species in the genus Lepidurus occurs in California’s Great Central Valley, USA - the federally listed as endangered vernal pool tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus packardi). However, the alkali tadpole shrimp (L. lemmoni) was observed in the southern portion of the Central Valley in 2019 within several alkaline playa pools. This species’ presence in the Central Valley likely represents a remnant historic native population concentrated between 0 to 25 km south of the southern edge of the historic Tulare Lake. Alternatively, the occurrence may be a natural or anthropogenic range extension or perhaps a new species. The discovery of a species (or possibly new or cryptic species) very uncommon to the Central Valley provides additional management implications that Tulare Basin pools provide habitat for rare species at risk of development and should be protected. Furthermore, alkali pools within this region should receive more intensive and widespread survey attention, especially from a large branchiopod perspective.

Native butterfly and bee fauna in California’s Central Valley have experienced significant declines in the last few decades. Farmers, non-profits, and local, state, and federal agencies in the region are partnering to address habitat losses for these insects by restoring native plants to crop field margins and waterways. We used our 6-year dataset of bee and butterfly counts at 18 habitat restoration sites in farmland in the Sacramento Valley to examine how planting design and plant species composition relate to native bee and butterfly abundance and butterfly community composition. As expected, native bees were more abundant in planting designs that resulted in higher floral density. Native bees exhibited evidence of preference for some native and some introduced plant species and these preferences varied by season. Though full analysis is pending, it appears that butterfly species' richness and abundance was more tied to landscape-scale factors and presence of host plants than to richness of blooming or non-blooming plants. Our findings underscore the need to use planting designs that increase the density and seasonal abundance of floral resources, to widen the variety of butterfly host plants used, and to thoughtfully manage introduced species in these restoration efforts.

Described just over a year ago, the Tulare Basin Scorpion (Paruroctonus tulare) is the latest addition to the United States' diverse scorpion fauna. This species is endemic to the lowland southern San Joaquin valley, among the most severely degraded regions of the western US. Consequently, P. tulare has lost over 80% of its historic range leaving it imminently threatened with extinction. In this talk, I will discuss what is known about the ecology of this species with a special focus on its unique habitat. I will then discuss the implications of Paruroctonus tulare's specialist ecology on its distribution and conservation as well as what this species can teach us about habitat preservation in the Tulare Basin more broadly.