Science and Policy

Pest Insect Management Welfare

Pest management kills billions of insects annually — welfare considerations are beginning to emerge.

Key Facts

Integrated pest management approaches minimize insecticide use and rely on biological control
The scale of pest management impacts potentially billions of individuals
Whether insects have morally relevant experiences remains scientifically uncertain
Organic pest management approaches significantly reduce insect mortality

Welfare Considerations

Pest management kills enormous numbers of insects through poisoning, trapping, and habitat modification. Whether insects have morally relevant experiences is uncertain, but the scale means the welfare question deserves serious consideration. Integrated pest management approaches that minimize insecticide use and rely on biological control, habitat modification, and targeted interventions reduce insect mortality while achieving control objectives.

What You Can Do

Use integrated pest management approaches that minimize pesticide use
Apply a precautionary approach when evaluating large-scale insect control programs
Support research into insect welfare and pest management alternatives
Choose organic pest management approaches for garden and household use