Insect Welfare Research Society
@insectwrs.bsky.social
Connecting the global community of insect welfare researchers and stakeholders.
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
Reposted by Insect Welfare Research Society
You can pick up a pamphlet or info sheet from the @insectwrs.bsky.social at any of our in person events. They are a great org doing good things to raise awareness of insects place in our world and the respect, care, and consideration that they deserve. 🫡 🐛
November 16, 2025 at 3:57 PM
You can pick up a pamphlet or info sheet from the @insectwrs.bsky.social at any of our in person events. They are a great org doing good things to raise awareness of insects place in our world and the respect, care, and consideration that they deserve. 🫡 🐛
Calling all insect researchers! 🐛
The Barrett Lab at Indiana University Indianapolis is hiring for a 2-year position, laboratory research specialist, in insect neuroscience and welfare. Interested applicants should apply as soon as possible; the position is open until filled:
bit.ly/43sv1TQ
The Barrett Lab at Indiana University Indianapolis is hiring for a 2-year position, laboratory research specialist, in insect neuroscience and welfare. Interested applicants should apply as soon as possible; the position is open until filled:
bit.ly/43sv1TQ
Laboratory Research Specialist - HigherEdJobs
Jobs in higher education. Faculty and administrative positions at colleges and universities. Updated daily. Free to job seekers.
www.higheredjobs.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Calling all insect researchers! 🐛
The Barrett Lab at Indiana University Indianapolis is hiring for a 2-year position, laboratory research specialist, in insect neuroscience and welfare. Interested applicants should apply as soon as possible; the position is open until filled:
bit.ly/43sv1TQ
The Barrett Lab at Indiana University Indianapolis is hiring for a 2-year position, laboratory research specialist, in insect neuroscience and welfare. Interested applicants should apply as soon as possible; the position is open until filled:
bit.ly/43sv1TQ
In October, Prof. Bob Fischer presented "What do we know about insect sentience?", reviewing the latest evidence on insect pain and welfare concerns in farming contexts.
Read the full summary from Rethink Priorities:
Read the full summary from Rethink Priorities:
The case for insect sentience (1/2): The evidence
A review of current research insights with expert Prof. Bob Fischer
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
In October, Prof. Bob Fischer presented "What do we know about insect sentience?", reviewing the latest evidence on insect pain and welfare concerns in farming contexts.
Read the full summary from Rethink Priorities:
Read the full summary from Rethink Priorities:
Join us November 12, 4pm GMT as Dr. David Fisher (U of Aberdeen) shares new research on cockroach sentience, including the first-ever evidence of juvenile motivational trade-offs in insects. He will also explore implications for research & pest control.
Join us:
Join us:
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Positive and negative affective states, motivational trade-offs, and consequences of tagging in a cockroach. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
David Fisher, Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen Whether non-human animals are sentient is critical for determining how we act towards them. Key features of more complex…
bit.ly
November 6, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Join us November 12, 4pm GMT as Dr. David Fisher (U of Aberdeen) shares new research on cockroach sentience, including the first-ever evidence of juvenile motivational trade-offs in insects. He will also explore implications for research & pest control.
Join us:
Join us:
Reposted by Insect Welfare Research Society
The best part about replacing your lawn with native #pollinating plants is you can start today and start small.
Attached are a few enamel #pins representing #pollinators that will thank you for it.
What native #plants have you put in your lawn?
#entomology #entofashion #enamelpins
Attached are a few enamel #pins representing #pollinators that will thank you for it.
What native #plants have you put in your lawn?
#entomology #entofashion #enamelpins
November 3, 2025 at 11:41 PM
The best part about replacing your lawn with native #pollinating plants is you can start today and start small.
Attached are a few enamel #pins representing #pollinators that will thank you for it.
What native #plants have you put in your lawn?
#entomology #entofashion #enamelpins
Attached are a few enamel #pins representing #pollinators that will thank you for it.
What native #plants have you put in your lawn?
#entomology #entofashion #enamelpins
Know an amateur entomologist or invertebrate recorder? 🦋 We're offering up to $2,000 to help test and refine biological recording methods using 3Rs approaches. Need 2+ years experience. Deadline: Dec 1.
Learn more:
Learn more:
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…
www.insectwelfare.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Know an amateur entomologist or invertebrate recorder? 🦋 We're offering up to $2,000 to help test and refine biological recording methods using 3Rs approaches. Need 2+ years experience. Deadline: Dec 1.
Learn more:
Learn more:
Reposted by Insect Welfare Research Society
Our ‘unsexy’ moth could help farmers fight pests without pesticides.
We turned off moths’ sex signals – this could be the key to greener pest control
Our ‘unsexy’ moth could help farmers fight pests without pesticides.
tcnv.link
October 15, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Our ‘unsexy’ moth could help farmers fight pests without pesticides.
Reposted by Insect Welfare Research Society
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
October 22, 2025 at 5:27 PM
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
Only a couple weeks left to apply for the IWRS Graduate Student Research Awards! 🐛
Deadline: Oct 31, 2025
Open to all grad students globally
Perfect for students interested in cognition, pain, and welfare in invertebrates
Apply: bit.ly/4qdPV2E
#InsectWelfare #GradResearch
Deadline: Oct 31, 2025
Open to all grad students globally
Perfect for students interested in cognition, pain, and welfare in invertebrates
Apply: bit.ly/4qdPV2E
#InsectWelfare #GradResearch
Student Research Awards — Insect Welfare Research Society
Awards are due October 31, 2025 at midnight your local time. Instructions below.
bit.ly
October 16, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Only a couple weeks left to apply for the IWRS Graduate Student Research Awards! 🐛
Deadline: Oct 31, 2025
Open to all grad students globally
Perfect for students interested in cognition, pain, and welfare in invertebrates
Apply: bit.ly/4qdPV2E
#InsectWelfare #GradResearch
Deadline: Oct 31, 2025
Open to all grad students globally
Perfect for students interested in cognition, pain, and welfare in invertebrates
Apply: bit.ly/4qdPV2E
#InsectWelfare #GradResearch
What do we know about insect sentience? With forecasts of trillions farmed by 2033, it's a pressing research question.
Join Prof. Bob Fischer on Oct 20 (1pm ET) for a Rethink Priorities webinar exploring:
- Can insects feel pain?
- Welfare in insect farming
- Approaches to improving conditions
Join Prof. Bob Fischer on Oct 20 (1pm ET) for a Rethink Priorities webinar exploring:
- Can insects feel pain?
- Welfare in insect farming
- Approaches to improving conditions
What do we know about insect sentience? · Zoom · Luma
Welcome to the RP Strategic Animal Webinars and the talk and Q&A session: What do we know about insect sentience? Date: October 20, 2025 (10 AM PDT, 1 PM EDT,…
bit.ly
October 8, 2025 at 1:02 PM
What do we know about insect sentience? With forecasts of trillions farmed by 2033, it's a pressing research question.
Join Prof. Bob Fischer on Oct 20 (1pm ET) for a Rethink Priorities webinar exploring:
- Can insects feel pain?
- Welfare in insect farming
- Approaches to improving conditions
Join Prof. Bob Fischer on Oct 20 (1pm ET) for a Rethink Priorities webinar exploring:
- Can insects feel pain?
- Welfare in insect farming
- Approaches to improving conditions
ICYMI: On Oct 2, the Center for Insect Biomanufacturing and Innovation (CIBI) held its first Annual Insect Livestock Health & Disease Seminar.
Experts discussed:
- Colony health monitoring
- Emerging pathogens
- Welfare standards
- Sustainable practices
- and more
Watch here:
Experts discussed:
- Colony health monitoring
- Emerging pathogens
- Welfare standards
- Sustainable practices
- and more
Watch here:
CIBI Recording 2 Oct 2025 AWC Seminar YT
CIBI Animal Welfare Seminar: Insect Livestock Health and Disease
youtu.be
October 7, 2025 at 1:01 PM
ICYMI: On Oct 2, the Center for Insect Biomanufacturing and Innovation (CIBI) held its first Annual Insect Livestock Health & Disease Seminar.
Experts discussed:
- Colony health monitoring
- Emerging pathogens
- Welfare standards
- Sustainable practices
- and more
Watch here:
Experts discussed:
- Colony health monitoring
- Emerging pathogens
- Welfare standards
- Sustainable practices
- and more
Watch here:
Reposted by Insect Welfare Research Society
Insects aren’t ‘little robots’—so scientists are rethinking their welfare: Science chats with an entomologist and an expert in animal ethics who are monitoring how researchers report on the ethical treatment of insects. | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
Insects aren’t ‘little robots’—so scientists are rethinking their welfare
Science chats with an entomologist and an expert in animal ethics who are monitoring how researchers report on the ethical treatment of insects
www.science.org
September 30, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Insects aren’t ‘little robots’—so scientists are rethinking their welfare: Science chats with an entomologist and an expert in animal ethics who are monitoring how researchers report on the ethical treatment of insects. | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Insect Welfare Research Society
Mondays talk by @beebytes.bsky.social was a fantastic deep dive on what is, and is not, known on humane insect collections 🪲 highly recommend a watch as Meghan gave some really useful & practical tips
@insectwrs.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social
@insectwrs.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social
Here's that talk from last night, about humane insect collection. It's worth a watch I think - especially the bit about freezing specimens. Thanks to the @tanyptera.bsky.social for organising this.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=12at...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=12at...
What we know, and don't know, about humane insect collection
YouTube video by The Tanyptera Project
www.youtube.com
September 24, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Mondays talk by @beebytes.bsky.social was a fantastic deep dive on what is, and is not, known on humane insect collections 🪲 highly recommend a watch as Meghan gave some really useful & practical tips
@insectwrs.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social
@insectwrs.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social
Join us today for "What we know, and don't know, about humane insect collection" - a virtual webinar covering anesthesia methods, best practices for harm reduction, and more.
2:30-4 PM ET | 7:30-9 PM BST
Speaker: Dr. Meghan Barrett (Indiana University Indianapolis)
Sign up: bit.ly/4miGqMI
2:30-4 PM ET | 7:30-9 PM BST
Speaker: Dr. Meghan Barrett (Indiana University Indianapolis)
Sign up: bit.ly/4miGqMI
Select tickets – What we know, and don't know, about humane insect collection - Webinar – Zoom
What we know, and don't know, about humane insect collection - Webinar – Zoom, Mon 22 Sep 2025 - This webinar has been jointly organised with the Insect Welfare Research Society For many reasons, we…
www.tickettailor.com
September 22, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Join us today for "What we know, and don't know, about humane insect collection" - a virtual webinar covering anesthesia methods, best practices for harm reduction, and more.
2:30-4 PM ET | 7:30-9 PM BST
Speaker: Dr. Meghan Barrett (Indiana University Indianapolis)
Sign up: bit.ly/4miGqMI
2:30-4 PM ET | 7:30-9 PM BST
Speaker: Dr. Meghan Barrett (Indiana University Indianapolis)
Sign up: bit.ly/4miGqMI
Join us Sept 24, 5 PM BST for our seminar with Prof. Kristoffer Whitney (Rochester Institute of Technology): "Blood Money: The history of horseshoe crabs in science and medicine"
He will explore historical, political, and ethical issues related to marine invertebrate welfare: bit.ly/3K2acYC
He will explore historical, political, and ethical issues related to marine invertebrate welfare: bit.ly/3K2acYC
September 15, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Join us Sept 24, 5 PM BST for our seminar with Prof. Kristoffer Whitney (Rochester Institute of Technology): "Blood Money: The history of horseshoe crabs in science and medicine"
He will explore historical, political, and ethical issues related to marine invertebrate welfare: bit.ly/3K2acYC
He will explore historical, political, and ethical issues related to marine invertebrate welfare: bit.ly/3K2acYC
Reposted by Insect Welfare Research Society
Fantastic talk by @birchlse.bsky.social on ethical review for insect research as part of @royentsoc.bsky.social #Ento25 insect ethics workshop
@insectwrs.bsky.social
@insectwrs.bsky.social
September 10, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Fantastic talk by @birchlse.bsky.social on ethical review for insect research as part of @royentsoc.bsky.social #Ento25 insect ethics workshop
@insectwrs.bsky.social
@insectwrs.bsky.social
Thanks to those who joined our webinar featuring Dr. Matilda Gibbons (University of Pennsylvania): "How Can We Measure Sentience in an Insect?"
In case you missed it, the video is available on our YouTube channel: youtu.be/HajWZuMto0A
In case you missed it, the video is available on our YouTube channel: youtu.be/HajWZuMto0A
How Can We Measure Sentience in an Insect?
YouTube video by Insect Welfare Research Society
youtu.be
September 5, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Thanks to those who joined our webinar featuring Dr. Matilda Gibbons (University of Pennsylvania): "How Can We Measure Sentience in an Insect?"
In case you missed it, the video is available on our YouTube channel: youtu.be/HajWZuMto0A
In case you missed it, the video is available on our YouTube channel: youtu.be/HajWZuMto0A
Reposted by Insect Welfare Research Society
Listen now! On Research Podcast Episode 7: Navigating the Ethics of Insect Research: Sentience, Welfare, and Scientific Responsibility
This episode discusses the ethics and welfare of insects in research.
https://post.citiprogram.org/3ISrXsO
#InsectWelfare #InsectResearch #AnimalCare #AnimalResearch
This episode discusses the ethics and welfare of insects in research.
https://post.citiprogram.org/3ISrXsO
#InsectWelfare #InsectResearch #AnimalCare #AnimalResearch
August 1, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Listen now! On Research Podcast Episode 7: Navigating the Ethics of Insect Research: Sentience, Welfare, and Scientific Responsibility
This episode discusses the ethics and welfare of insects in research.
https://post.citiprogram.org/3ISrXsO
#InsectWelfare #InsectResearch #AnimalCare #AnimalResearch
This episode discusses the ethics and welfare of insects in research.
https://post.citiprogram.org/3ISrXsO
#InsectWelfare #InsectResearch #AnimalCare #AnimalResearch
Join us August 26 for our webinar with Dr. Matilda Gibbons (UPenn) exploring "How Can We Measure Sentience in an Insect?" 🐛
She'll examine scientific vs. policy approaches to defining sentience—and the consequences of choosing one path over the other.
Join us: bit.ly/4ou1B0F
She'll examine scientific vs. policy approaches to defining sentience—and the consequences of choosing one path over the other.
Join us: bit.ly/4ou1B0F
August 13, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Join us August 26 for our webinar with Dr. Matilda Gibbons (UPenn) exploring "How Can We Measure Sentience in an Insect?" 🐛
She'll examine scientific vs. policy approaches to defining sentience—and the consequences of choosing one path over the other.
Join us: bit.ly/4ou1B0F
She'll examine scientific vs. policy approaches to defining sentience—and the consequences of choosing one path over the other.
Join us: bit.ly/4ou1B0F
Check out @royentsoc.bsky.social's Welfare & Ethics forum, one of their 20+ Special Interest Groups! 🐛
The Royal Entomological Society has over 20 Special Interest Groups pulling together a community with a shared interest in advancing areas of knowledge within unique fields of #InsectScience.
Read more about our SIGs 🔽
buff.ly/Cvd6j18
📸 (c) Pepe Badia Marrero, 2024 Photography Competition
Read more about our SIGs 🔽
buff.ly/Cvd6j18
📸 (c) Pepe Badia Marrero, 2024 Photography Competition
Special interest groups - Royal Entomological Society
The Society convenes Special Interest Groups (SIGs) on a range of topics.
buff.ly
July 29, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Check out @royentsoc.bsky.social's Welfare & Ethics forum, one of their 20+ Special Interest Groups! 🐛
Reposted by Insect Welfare Research Society
My new paper with @walterveit.bsky.social looks at the case of black soldier fly farming to examine what best practice in farmed insect welfare might look like and how to achieve it
doi.org/10.1079/abwc...
doi.org/10.1079/abwc...
Best Practice for Farmed Insect Welfare: Lessons from Black Soldier Flies | Animal Behaviour and Welfare Cases
A close-up view of a Black Soldier Fly sitting on a surface. Abstract There is a growing concern for the welfare of farmed insects due to the recognition
of their probable sentience and their incre...
doi.org
May 27, 2025 at 11:33 AM
My new paper with @walterveit.bsky.social looks at the case of black soldier fly farming to examine what best practice in farmed insect welfare might look like and how to achieve it
doi.org/10.1079/abwc...
doi.org/10.1079/abwc...
It's #InsectWeek 2025! The celebration's learning resources include @larschittka.bsky.social's entoLIVE webinar on bee intelligence. 🐝 Learn how they recognize faces, exhibit emotions, use tools, and more.
@Royentsoc.bsky.social
@Royentsoc.bsky.social
The Mind of a Bee: An Exploration of the Intelligence of Bees
Delve into the mind of a bee with Prof Lars Chittka (Queen Mary College of the University of London) and explore how bee brains are unparalleled in the animal kingdom.
bit.ly
June 25, 2025 at 1:05 PM
It's #InsectWeek 2025! The celebration's learning resources include @larschittka.bsky.social's entoLIVE webinar on bee intelligence. 🐝 Learn how they recognize faces, exhibit emotions, use tools, and more.
@Royentsoc.bsky.social
@Royentsoc.bsky.social
@Royentsoc.bsky.social is hosting events, learning resources, and a photography competition for #InsectWeek 2025! 🪲 From bees using tools to butterflies navigating thousands of miles—let's use this week to appreciate their abilities and consider what they need to thrive.
23 - 29 June 2025 - Insect Week
Royal Entomological Society
www.insectweek.org
June 23, 2025 at 1:04 PM
@Royentsoc.bsky.social is hosting events, learning resources, and a photography competition for #InsectWeek 2025! 🪲 From bees using tools to butterflies navigating thousands of miles—let's use this week to appreciate their abilities and consider what they need to thrive.