Animal category: Insects

Scientific article defining pain, differentiating it from nociception, and recalling work that has led to the conclusion that most of the 6 largest insect orders are very likely capable of feeling pain. It concludes that this fact should be taken into account by entomologists, and suggests extending the 3Rs rule (replace, reduce, refine) to insect research.

Challenges identified in this article include the rapid growth of the insect farming industry and associated innovations, the use of welfare tools originally developed for vertebrates, variations between populations and individuals, welfare needs during insect development, and animal welfare trade-offs in the decision to use insect as opposed to fish proteins.

Scientific review of factors that may influence the welfare of black soldier flies in commercial farming. It identifies the major issues and the farming conditions that cause them, suggesting areas for research to improve our understanding of the welfare of black soldier flies and, more generally, of farmed insects.

Scientific review on insect cognition, focusing on the hypothesis that there is such a thing as a "social brain", i.e. cognitive capacities specific to social species. Most of the research on cognition in insects is done on highly social species, so it is not possible to make comparisons with less social species. It would therefore be necessary to develop specific research programs to address this issue.

Article addressing welfare issues for insects in light of increases in insect farming and consumption, their potential as an alternative source of protein for human and animal food, and their cognitive and sensory abilities suggested by the scientific data.

Paper demonstrating the existence of motivational trade-offs in the nociceptive responses of bumblebees, which are able to use contextual information to modulate their nociceptive behaviours. It also suggests that insects have the capacity to feel pain

Commentary on an article demonstrating the conservation of dopamine-related neural circuits and mechanisms involving desire and reward  in animals, from bees to humans.