Insect Welfare Research Society
@insectwrs.bsky.social
Connecting the global community of insect welfare researchers and stakeholders.
In this episode of the "Get the Bug" podcast, @beebytes.bsky.social discusses a wide range of insect welfare topics, from insects in poultry feed to emerging data on public perceptions of insect welfare.
#31 Welfare and Trust in Insect Farming, with Meghan Barrett.
Get The Bug · Episode
open.spotify.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:01 PM
In this episode of the "Get the Bug" podcast, @beebytes.bsky.social discusses a wide range of insect welfare topics, from insects in poultry feed to emerging data on public perceptions of insect welfare.
What does the evidence actually tell us about insect sentience?
Join us on March 11 as @viveknityananda.bsky.social examines frameworks for investigating insect welfare, including key debates around insect emotions and pain.
bit.ly/4bFAITn
Join us on March 11 as @viveknityananda.bsky.social examines frameworks for investigating insect welfare, including key debates around insect emotions and pain.
bit.ly/4bFAITn
February 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM
What does the evidence actually tell us about insect sentience?
Join us on March 11 as @viveknityananda.bsky.social examines frameworks for investigating insect welfare, including key debates around insect emotions and pain.
bit.ly/4bFAITn
Join us on March 11 as @viveknityananda.bsky.social examines frameworks for investigating insect welfare, including key debates around insect emotions and pain.
bit.ly/4bFAITn
Reposted by Insect Welfare Research Society
So excited to see this recommendation coming from the Animal Sentience Committee, really hoping it leads to some real change in decapod protection
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
February 5, 2026 at 8:58 AM
So excited to see this recommendation coming from the Animal Sentience Committee, really hoping it leads to some real change in decapod protection
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
This new review in J Agric & Environ Ethics argues that black soldier fly farming's ethical framework hasn't kept pace with its commercial scale. Read to learn about practical welfare concerns, from handling to environmental stressors, and gaps for future research:
Uncovering Ethical Blind Spots and Operational Pathways in Sustainable Maggot-Based Waste Management Systems
Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) bioconversion has been commercially established for over a decade as an efficient method for transforming organic waste int
doi.org
February 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM
This new review in J Agric & Environ Ethics argues that black soldier fly farming's ethical framework hasn't kept pace with its commercial scale. Read to learn about practical welfare concerns, from handling to environmental stressors, and gaps for future research:
Great opportunity for anyone interested in a PhD at the intersection of philosophy, animal welfare, public policy, and sentience research 🐛
My Centre is a unique place to do a PhD in Philosophy, because you can be in constant contact with experts in veterinary medicine, psychology, zoology and policy and be part of a team united by a shared interest in animal minds. We now have our 1st ever PhD scholarship: www.lse.ac.uk/sentience/phd
PhD Scholarship
www.lse.ac.uk
February 3, 2026 at 3:02 AM
Great opportunity for anyone interested in a PhD at the intersection of philosophy, animal welfare, public policy, and sentience research 🐛
The IWRS is hiring! Help us build the infrastructure for invertebrate welfare research—from husbandry databases to educational resources. 🐛📖
Remote Research Scientist position, $55-60K. We will begin reviewing applications on March 15.
Learn more and apply here:
Remote Research Scientist position, $55-60K. We will begin reviewing applications on March 15.
Learn more and apply here:
Staff Entomologist — Insect Welfare Research Society
Work with Us
www.insectwelfare.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:01 PM
The IWRS is hiring! Help us build the infrastructure for invertebrate welfare research—from husbandry databases to educational resources. 🐛📖
Remote Research Scientist position, $55-60K. We will begin reviewing applications on March 15.
Learn more and apply here:
Remote Research Scientist position, $55-60K. We will begin reviewing applications on March 15.
Learn more and apply here:
This important review proposes 2-step euthanasia methods in invertebrates, examining procedures across taxa. Drawing on lessons from vertebrate welfare history, the authors also argue that current research gaps about pain should prompt precautionary standards, not justify lower ones: bit.ly/4sPoJIO
bit.ly
January 22, 2026 at 8:06 PM
This important review proposes 2-step euthanasia methods in invertebrates, examining procedures across taxa. Drawing on lessons from vertebrate welfare history, the authors also argue that current research gaps about pain should prompt precautionary standards, not justify lower ones: bit.ly/4sPoJIO
Don't miss our seminar tomorrow! Prof. Edward Waddell will discuss a key issue for farmed insect welfare: dietary preferences in adult black soldier flies.
Join us Jan 20 as Prof. Edward Waddell explores dietary preferences in black soldier flies. His research shows adults live an average of 4-6 days longer and mate more frequently when given their preferred diet—revealing practical pathways to improve welfare for trillions farmed annually.
Register:
Register:
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Dietary preferences and impacts of feeding on behavior, longevity, and reproduction in adult black solider flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae; Hermetia illucens). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Edward Waddell | Assistant Professor, Biology | Holy Family University The black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens; Diptera: Stratiomyidae) is a novel mini-livestock species now reared in the…
bit.ly
January 19, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Don't miss our seminar tomorrow! Prof. Edward Waddell will discuss a key issue for farmed insect welfare: dietary preferences in adult black soldier flies.
A new paper by @marcinurbaniak.bsky.social provides a useful synthesis of neurological and behavioral evidence for pain perception in crabs, crayfish, and prawns.
Full paper available here:
Full paper available here:
January 12, 2026 at 2:03 PM
A new paper by @marcinurbaniak.bsky.social provides a useful synthesis of neurological and behavioral evidence for pain perception in crabs, crayfish, and prawns.
Full paper available here:
Full paper available here:
Need funding for your arthropod welfare research? Check out this opportunity—only one week left to apply! 🦐🐜🐛
Calling all shrimp and aquaculture researchers! 🦐
We're funding research on Pacific white shrimp & giant tiger prawn welfare in commercial settings—work that could impact billions of animals.
Up to $10K ($50K for exceptional projects). EOIs due Jan 15, 2026.
Apply: bit.ly/3KVCwMR
We're funding research on Pacific white shrimp & giant tiger prawn welfare in commercial settings—work that could impact billions of animals.
Up to $10K ($50K for exceptional projects). EOIs due Jan 15, 2026.
Apply: bit.ly/3KVCwMR
Arthropoda Foundation - Call for Proposals
The Arthropoda Foundation is currently accepting expressions of interest for its current call for proposals. Please fill out this form to apply. Any questions may be directed to grants@arthropodafound...
bit.ly
January 7, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Need funding for your arthropod welfare research? Check out this opportunity—only one week left to apply! 🦐🐜🐛
Join us Jan 20 as Prof. Edward Waddell explores dietary preferences in black soldier flies. His research shows adults live an average of 4-6 days longer and mate more frequently when given their preferred diet—revealing practical pathways to improve welfare for trillions farmed annually.
Register:
Register:
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Dietary preferences and impacts of feeding on behavior, longevity, and reproduction in adult black solider flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae; Hermetia illucens). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Edward Waddell | Assistant Professor, Biology | Holy Family University The black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens; Diptera: Stratiomyidae) is a novel mini-livestock species now reared in the…
bit.ly
January 6, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Join us Jan 20 as Prof. Edward Waddell explores dietary preferences in black soldier flies. His research shows adults live an average of 4-6 days longer and mate more frequently when given their preferred diet—revealing practical pathways to improve welfare for trillions farmed annually.
Register:
Register:
Reposted by Insect Welfare Research Society
Stingless bees from the Amazon granted legal rights in world first
Stingless bees from the Amazon granted legal rights in world first
Planet’s oldest bee species and primary pollinators were under threat from deforestation and competition from ‘killer bees’
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Stingless bees from the Amazon granted legal rights in world first
Happy New Year! Our first newsletter of 2026 celebrates jumping spider cognition, UK legislation banning the live boiling of lobsters, and a new paper on research directions in insect welfare.
Want to know the latest in the field? Make sure to join our listserv!
www.insectwelfare.com/join
Want to know the latest in the field? Make sure to join our listserv!
www.insectwelfare.com/join
January 5, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Happy New Year! Our first newsletter of 2026 celebrates jumping spider cognition, UK legislation banning the live boiling of lobsters, and a new paper on research directions in insect welfare.
Want to know the latest in the field? Make sure to join our listserv!
www.insectwelfare.com/join
Want to know the latest in the field? Make sure to join our listserv!
www.insectwelfare.com/join
In a new paper, @jeffsebo.bsky.social and Toni Sims argue that insect research needs ethical oversight. Their article covers moral reasoning behind their argument and initial steps forward—including developing policies and methods for assessing welfare risks.
Full paper here:
Full paper here:
(PDF) Ethical Oversight for Insect ResearchNadzór etyczny nad badaniami nad owadamiЭтический надзор за исследованиями насекомых
PDF | In this article, we present a high-level argument for ethical oversight for insect research. There is a realistic possibility that insects are... | Find, read and cite all the research you need…
bit.ly
December 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
In a new paper, @jeffsebo.bsky.social and Toni Sims argue that insect research needs ethical oversight. Their article covers moral reasoning behind their argument and initial steps forward—including developing policies and methods for assessing welfare risks.
Full paper here:
Full paper here:
This fascinating video from @scishow.bsky.social explores how jumping spiders in the genus Portia can plan ahead, learn through trial and error, and even lie!
Explore the latest on spider cognition here: youtu.be/lwPryksCmIo
Explore the latest on spider cognition here: youtu.be/lwPryksCmIo
The Genius Spiders Changing How We Think About Brains
Go to https://complexly.store/ to support Complexly this holiday season!
Despite having a brain the size of a pinhead, jumping spiders in the genus Portia can plan ahead, learn through trial and…
www.youtube.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM
This fascinating video from @scishow.bsky.social explores how jumping spiders in the genus Portia can plan ahead, learn through trial and error, and even lie!
Explore the latest on spider cognition here: youtu.be/lwPryksCmIo
Explore the latest on spider cognition here: youtu.be/lwPryksCmIo
Reposted by Insect Welfare Research Society
📅 Deadline reminder: Jan 15, 2026
Calling shrimp & aquaculture researchers! We're seeking proposals to address welfare challenges for Pacific white shrimps & giant tiger prawns in commercial aquaculture. 🦐
Just a few weeks left to apply!
Up to $10K–$50K available
Apply: bit.ly/3KVCwMR
Calling shrimp & aquaculture researchers! We're seeking proposals to address welfare challenges for Pacific white shrimps & giant tiger prawns in commercial aquaculture. 🦐
Just a few weeks left to apply!
Up to $10K–$50K available
Apply: bit.ly/3KVCwMR
Arthropoda Foundation - Call for Proposals
The Arthropoda Foundation is currently accepting expressions of interest for its current call for proposals. Please fill out this form to apply. Any questions may be directed to grants@arthropodafound...
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 5:28 PM
📅 Deadline reminder: Jan 15, 2026
Calling shrimp & aquaculture researchers! We're seeking proposals to address welfare challenges for Pacific white shrimps & giant tiger prawns in commercial aquaculture. 🦐
Just a few weeks left to apply!
Up to $10K–$50K available
Apply: bit.ly/3KVCwMR
Calling shrimp & aquaculture researchers! We're seeking proposals to address welfare challenges for Pacific white shrimps & giant tiger prawns in commercial aquaculture. 🦐
Just a few weeks left to apply!
Up to $10K–$50K available
Apply: bit.ly/3KVCwMR
We've extended our Biological Recorder 3Rs Innovation Award deadline to February 28!
Amateur entomologists and invertebrate recorders with 2+ years experience can receive up to $2,000 to test and refine biological recording methods using 3Rs approaches. 🦋
Apply here: bit.ly/4pluUC8
Amateur entomologists and invertebrate recorders with 2+ years experience can receive up to $2,000 to test and refine biological recording methods using 3Rs approaches. 🦋
Apply here: bit.ly/4pluUC8
Biological Recorder 3Rs Innovation Award — Insect Welfare Research Society
"Amateur" entomologists, arachnologists, and others contribute significant knowledge through their biological recording and collections work, recording species occurrences, range shifts, and…
bit.ly
December 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
We've extended our Biological Recorder 3Rs Innovation Award deadline to February 28!
Amateur entomologists and invertebrate recorders with 2+ years experience can receive up to $2,000 to test and refine biological recording methods using 3Rs approaches. 🦋
Apply here: bit.ly/4pluUC8
Amateur entomologists and invertebrate recorders with 2+ years experience can receive up to $2,000 to test and refine biological recording methods using 3Rs approaches. 🦋
Apply here: bit.ly/4pluUC8
How do we measure consciousness in insects? Colin Klein (Australian National University) and Andrew Barron (Macquarie University) propose a neural model that focuses on the core computations simple brains perform.
Learn more via @us.theconversation.com:
Learn more via @us.theconversation.com:
Are animals and AI conscious? We’ve devised new theories for how to test this
What matters for consciousness is not what you do, but how you do it.
bit.ly
December 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
How do we measure consciousness in insects? Colin Klein (Australian National University) and Andrew Barron (Macquarie University) propose a neural model that focuses on the core computations simple brains perform.
Learn more via @us.theconversation.com:
Learn more via @us.theconversation.com:
Do you have burning questions about insect sentience and welfare?
Check out this Q&A with Prof. Bob Fischer, published by Rethink Priorities. He tackles questions like: Is consciousness all-or-nothing? Should we prioritize welfare research over sentience research?
Read more: bit.ly/48i6SSL
Check out this Q&A with Prof. Bob Fischer, published by Rethink Priorities. He tackles questions like: Is consciousness all-or-nothing? Should we prioritize welfare research over sentience research?
Read more: bit.ly/48i6SSL
The case for insect sentience (2/2): Frequently asked questions, answered
Q&A with expert Prof. Bob Fischer
bit.ly
December 8, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Do you have burning questions about insect sentience and welfare?
Check out this Q&A with Prof. Bob Fischer, published by Rethink Priorities. He tackles questions like: Is consciousness all-or-nothing? Should we prioritize welfare research over sentience research?
Read more: bit.ly/48i6SSL
Check out this Q&A with Prof. Bob Fischer, published by Rethink Priorities. He tackles questions like: Is consciousness all-or-nothing? Should we prioritize welfare research over sentience research?
Read more: bit.ly/48i6SSL
How do beekeeping practices affect bees, beekeepers, and the environment simultaneously?
Check out this interesting new study, exploring 295 Honey Bee Welfare Practices (HBWPs) through a One Welfare framework.
Check out this interesting new study, exploring 295 Honey Bee Welfare Practices (HBWPs) through a One Welfare framework.
Categorisation of the One Welfare Practices in Beekeeping
Honey bees are essential for agriculture and biodiversity. However, their welfare is often overlooked. This study explores how Honey Bee Welfare Practices (HBWPs) can be integrated into the One Welfare...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
December 4, 2025 at 1:45 PM
How do beekeeping practices affect bees, beekeepers, and the environment simultaneously?
Check out this interesting new study, exploring 295 Honey Bee Welfare Practices (HBWPs) through a One Welfare framework.
Check out this interesting new study, exploring 295 Honey Bee Welfare Practices (HBWPs) through a One Welfare framework.
Reposted by Insect Welfare Research Society
New work from Animal Ethics is drawing attention to the growing body of evidence on aquatic animal sentience. Seantience, a short documentary directed by Xiana Castro, brings together recent findings on the capacity to feel in both vertebrates and invertebrates.
December 1, 2025 at 11:03 AM
New work from Animal Ethics is drawing attention to the growing body of evidence on aquatic animal sentience. Seantience, a short documentary directed by Xiana Castro, brings together recent findings on the capacity to feel in both vertebrates and invertebrates.
Fascinating exploration of how to make evidence-based decisions about allocating time and resources to invertebrate welfare
@jeffsebo.bsky.social
@jeffsebo.bsky.social
If we’re unsure about an animal’s feelings, should we assume they don’t feel pain, or that they do? Moral concern often centres on sentient beings, but it can extend further. The challenge is to build and sustain policies that reflect both our compassion and our limitations
An ant is drowning: here’s how to decide if you should save it | Aeon Essays
Should we simply assume that all animals can feel pain and are of moral concern? Or is that taking things too far?
buff.ly
November 29, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Fascinating exploration of how to make evidence-based decisions about allocating time and resources to invertebrate welfare
@jeffsebo.bsky.social
@jeffsebo.bsky.social
ICYMI: Dr. David Fisher (University of Aberdeen) presented his research on cockroach sentience in our latest IWRS seminar, including the first evidence of juvenile motivational trade-offs in insects. He also discussed implications for research practices and pest control.
Watch: bit.ly/3LJQYb4
Watch: bit.ly/3LJQYb4
- YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
bit.ly
November 20, 2025 at 2:01 PM
ICYMI: Dr. David Fisher (University of Aberdeen) presented his research on cockroach sentience in our latest IWRS seminar, including the first evidence of juvenile motivational trade-offs in insects. He also discussed implications for research practices and pest control.
Watch: bit.ly/3LJQYb4
Watch: bit.ly/3LJQYb4
Fascinating new evidence of individual face recognition in Phidippus regius.
Jumping spiders can recognise one another. This ability to learn, remember and represent images is quite surprising for such a tiny-brained animal!
buff.ly/dCkwPr0
buff.ly/dCkwPr0
November 19, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Fascinating new evidence of individual face recognition in Phidippus regius.
The deadline is approaching for our Biological Recorder 3Rs Innovation Award!
Amateur entomologists and invertebrate recorders with 2+ years experience can apply for up to $2,000 to test and refine biological recording methods using 3Rs approaches. 🦋
Applications due by December 1: bit.ly/4pluUC8
Amateur entomologists and invertebrate recorders with 2+ years experience can apply for up to $2,000 to test and refine biological recording methods using 3Rs approaches. 🦋
Applications due by December 1: bit.ly/4pluUC8
Biological Recorder 3Rs Innovation Award — Insect Welfare Research Society
bit.ly
November 18, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The deadline is approaching for our Biological Recorder 3Rs Innovation Award!
Amateur entomologists and invertebrate recorders with 2+ years experience can apply for up to $2,000 to test and refine biological recording methods using 3Rs approaches. 🦋
Applications due by December 1: bit.ly/4pluUC8
Amateur entomologists and invertebrate recorders with 2+ years experience can apply for up to $2,000 to test and refine biological recording methods using 3Rs approaches. 🦋
Applications due by December 1: bit.ly/4pluUC8