Insect populations are declining globally at alarming rates. Their welfare and ecological roles are intertwined — protecting insects protects ecosystems that all animals depend on.
Insect decline is both an ecological crisis and, for those who apply a precautionary welfare lens, a potential welfare concern at enormous scale. The ecological consequences are clearer: loss of pollinators, reduced prey for insectivorous wildlife, and disruption of decomposition and nutrient cycling. These ecological harms cascade through animal welfare by reducing food availability for birds, bats, fish, and other insectivore populations. The case for protecting insects rests partly on their intrinsic ecological value and partly on the precautionary welfare argument that the scale of decline — involving billions or trillions of individuals — warrants concern even under uncertainty about their sentience. Consumer choices, gardening practices, and political engagement with pesticide policy are all meaningful levers.