Wild Insect Decline and Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

The global decline of wild insects represents both an ecological crisis and a welfare concern for the billions of individuals affected.

Key Facts

Insect abundance has declined by up to 75% in some regions over the past four decades
Pesticides, habitat loss, light pollution and climate change are all contributing factors
Insect decline affects pollination, decomposition and food chains throughout ecosystems
Evidence suggests many insects have some capacity for nociception if not rich subjective experience

Welfare Considerations

Wild insect decline affects individual insects through exposure to sublethal pesticide doses that impair navigation, immune function and reproduction, causing harm at the individual level. The scale of decline — involving trillions of individuals across hundreds of thousands of species — makes this one of the most numerically significant welfare issues in ecology. Addressing insect decline through pesticide reform, habitat restoration and light pollution reduction has both ecological and welfare benefits.

What You Can Do

Reduce or eliminate pesticide use in gardens
Plant native species to support local insect food webs
Reduce outdoor artificial light that disorients and kills insects
Advocate for pesticide reform and landscape-scale habitat restoration