Invertebrates represent the vast majority of animal life on Earth. Growing evidence of insect sentience and the scale of invertebrate use challenges us to consider their welfare seriously.
Invertebrate welfare is among the most uncertain and contested areas in animal welfare science. The question of whether insects and other invertebrates experience suffering in a morally relevant way remains scientifically unresolved. However, given the enormous numbers involved in human activities, even a small probability of morally relevant experience creates significant welfare implications. Insects possess nociceptors and show behavioral responses to damaging stimuli that share features with pain responses in vertebrates. The precautionary principle suggests that when in doubt about sentience, erring toward welfare consideration is appropriate.