The Insect Conservation Network (ICN) has been established with the ESA to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas between people working in all aspects of insect conservation, from research through outreach. Like many other components of global biodiversity, insects are experiencing an unprecedented rate of extinction, and general declines in their abundance and/or ability to perform beneficial services. As appreciation for the consequences of this loss in diversity has grown, insect conservation has become an increasingly important field of study in entomology.

The goals of ICN are to 1) energize ESA members to take a expanded role in educating members and the public regarding the importance of insect diversity and the need for conservation, and 2) provide a framework for an annual forum in which ESA members from different disciplines can meet, present research findings, share educational program information, and together advance insect conservation.

If you have questions about this Network, please contact one of the ICN organizers:

John Losey
Cornell University
4126 Comstock Hall – Academic II
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607)255-7376
jel27@cornell.edu

Faith Kuehn
Delaware Department of Agriculture
2320 S. Dupont Highway
Dover, DE 19901
302-698-4587
Faith.Kuehn@state.de.us

For information and fact sheets on insect conservation, visit the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation website (www.xerces.org) or contact Mace Vaughan, Xerces Society Conservation Director (mace@xerces.org).