Sentience Profile
Insects
Last reviewed: January 9, 2026
Summary
Evidence for insect sentience is growing but remains less certain than for vertebrates; a precautionary approach is reasonable. Veganism typically reduces direct harm to large, clearly sentient animals and reduces land use—likely reducing many forms of animal suffering overall, including incidental insect deaths.
Supported by 1 cited source
Evidence Summary
- Reviews argue some insects show capacities relevant to sentience; uncertainty remains.
- Land-use reduction likely reduces habitat destruction and many indirect harms. Evidence quality: Low–Moderate (emerging field) Limitations / nuance: “Insects might be sentient” strengthens, not weakens, the case for reducing large-scale habitat destruction and high-land-use diets. Bottom line: Uncertainty about insects doesn’t cancel the clear harms of animal agriculture; veganism is still a
Supporting Evidence
Sources & Evidence
1 source cited across 2 claims
1
Insect sentience evidence is growing but uncertain
ObservationalCan insects feel pain? A review of the neural and behavioural evidence — Gibbons M, et al. (2022)View source ↗
2
Veganism reduces overall animal harm including insects
ModelingCan insects feel pain? A review of the neural and behavioural evidence — Gibbons M, et al. (2022)View source ↗