Wasps are widely disliked but ecologically vital insects whose welfare deserves consideration alongside their important roles in pest control and pollination.
Wasp welfare challenges our moral intuitions because these insects are widely regarded as pests rather than animals deserving consideration. Yet wasps have nervous systems capable of nociception and show behavioral evidence of learning and social recognition. Their ecological role as pest controllers provides enormous free services to agriculture and ecosystems. The decline of wasp populations documented in some regions has received far less conservation attention than bee declines, partly due to the unpopularity of these animals. From a welfare perspective, indiscriminate nest destruction during the active season causes suffering and eliminates ecologically valuable colonies. Tolerating wasps in outdoor spaces where they are not posing immediate risk is both a welfare and ecological good.