Farm Animal Welfare

Farmed Insect Welfare Mealworms BSFL

Welfare considerations for mealworms and black soldier fly larvae in commercial insect farming, including housing, killing, and species needs.

Key Facts

Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and BSFL (Hermetia illucens) are the most commercially important farmed insects
Mealworms are the larvae of darkling beetles and live for months
BSFL develop from egg to prepupa in 14 days, making welfare management more tractable
Optimal rearing temperature and substrate composition are key welfare variables
Killing methods for farmed insects range from freezing to high-temperature processing

Welfare Considerations

Mealworm and BSFL welfare raise different questions due to their distinct biology and development. BSFL have a short larval period with active feeding behaviour that requires appropriate substrate. Mealworms live longer and may have greater capacity for nociception given their more developed nervous systems. Developing species-specific welfare protocols for both species, including appropriate killing methods, is an emerging priority as insect farming scales globally.

What You Can Do

Support insect farms that disclose rearing conditions and killing methods
Advocate for species-specific welfare standards in insect farming regulations
Engage with the scientific debate on mealworm and BSFL sentience and welfare needs