Is it time for insect researchers to consider their subjects' welfare?

PLoS Biol. 2023 Jun 1;21(6):e3002138. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002138. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that at least some insect species might plausibly feel pain. These findings should prompt researchers to think about the welfare implications of insect experiments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Emotions*
  • Humans
  • Insecta
  • Research Personnel*

Grants and funding

A.C. and J.B. received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, Grant/Award Number 851145 (https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-2020_en). M.G. was funded by a Ph.D. studentship from Queen Mary University of London (https://www.qmul.ac.uk/). M.B. was funded as a National Science Foundation (NSF) postdoctoral research fellow, Grant Number 2109399 (https://beta.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/postdoctoral-research-fellowships-biology-prfb). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.