Research into insect sentience is advancing rapidly, with findings that have significant implications for how we treat the trillions of insects used and killed by human activity.
The uncertainty about insect sentience does not eliminate moral consideration at scale. If insects have even a small probability of experiencing suffering, the enormous numbers involved mean expected welfare harm is substantial. Advancing research can reduce uncertainty and allow more calibrated welfare responses. In the meantime, applying precautionary measures in contexts where insect killing is very large scale is morally defensible and practically achievable.