Ethical and Policy Implications of Pain in Insects

Recent work by Prof Lars Chittka’s team shows that, with high probability, many species of insects experience pain. As an advisor to the recently founded IWRS (Insect Welfare Research Society), Prof Chittka is campaigning to convince insect researchers to minimize suffering and improve welfare of insects in research laboratories. He also seeks to convert their findings into policy changes so that the insect feed/food industry (an exponentially growing sector) adopts ethical insect rearing and slaughtering standards. The study was supported by a QMUL PhD studentship and a QMUL impact fund grant.  

Below are related scientific publications:

•  https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.0599 
•  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2205821119 
•  https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aiip.2022.10.001 
•  https://doi.org/10.51291/2377-7478.1767   

There is also an article in The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/insects-may-feel-pain-says-growing-evidence-heres-what-this-means-for-animal-welfare-laws-195328

In species so different from ours, such as this 'praying mantis', behavioural signs of pain may also be very different.