Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

As severe insect declines receive increasing attention from academic and societal corners alike, a call for more research has emerged. Simultaneously, indications of insect declines and insect sentience have given rise to conversations surrounding the topic of insect ethics. Knowledge gaps occur in the stance of the entomological community in these conversations and in the influence these conversations have on practices of field entomology, and by extension on ethical treatment of insects.

To explore this knowledge gap, this study analyses how practices of field entomology interact with conversations on insect ethics. The research problem is approached and analysed through elemental social practice theory. This framework allows for a relatively detailed understanding about how insect ethics may be incorporated in practices of field entomology already, where avenues for change based on insect ethics may be identified and which obstacles to change occur.

The analysis suggests that some changes in practices of field entomology are already occurring through interactions with conversations on insect ethics. These mostly relate to active decisions about research goals, designs and materials to prevent insects being killed or suffering unnecessarily. However, such decision-making processes were found to differ per entomologist, which suggests potential avenues for changes in the form of more communication among entomologists and/or more institutionalization of guidelines for decision-making. The analysis also suggests two potential obstacles towards change in practices of field entomology, namely that when costs are involved, money may outweigh ethics and that certain confrontations with insect ethics, especially from the social sphere, are perceived as frustrating rather than constructive. Based on these findings, this study makes several suggestions to researchers, entomologists and those involved with conversations on insect ethics alike. It argues that implementation of changes to practices of field entomology as well as conversations on insect ethics based on the understandings provided by this study could lead to insects being thought about and treated differently, and ultimately to less insects being harmed.