We foster Southern California’s community of invertebrate lovers, both in person and online. What began as a few hobbyists meeting at an IHOP now hosts an annual Bugs & BBQ, tables together at reptile shows, and gathers for regular hikes through SoCal’s incredible biodiversity. Meeting face-to-face, we help each other pursue a shared passion and build meaningful connections that benefit both people and the creatures we love.

We teach ethical invertebrate husbandry, zoology, and conservation to both the hobby and the public — through outreach, guest lectures, partnerships, workshops, and online resources. We share the wonders of invertebrates at home and in the wild, from species brought in through the pet trade to those native to California, one of only 36 biodiversity hotspots on Earth. Above all, we work to replace fear and misunderstanding with fascination.

We work to protect invertebrates in the wild and in captivity. To ease the pressure the pet trade places on wild populations, we educate members on poaching, unsustainable collection, and misinformed husbandry, and resist these practices through position statements, blacklists, and networking with conservation professionals. We also partner with local habitat restoration and land conservation groups to preserve and expand the ecologies that sustain such an astounding diversity of life.