Wild insect populations have declined dramatically in the UK and globally, with welfare implications for billions of individual insects alongside the ecological consequences of pollinator loss.
The moral status of insects is uncertain but the precautionary principle suggests that dramatic declines in insect populations involving billions of individual animals warrant welfare consideration alongside ecological concern. Many insects have nociceptors and behavioral responses suggesting some capacity for pain experience. The welfare consideration is in addition to the ecological services insects provide as pollinators and food sources. Garden habitat creation including wildflower areas, log piles, and insect hotels provides resources for populations of wild insects. Reducing pesticide use and light pollution - which disrupts moth activity and predation patterns - are practical welfare-aligned interventions.