Did you know that there are over 10 quintillion insects alive in the world at this very moment? Find out how we advocated for them at the Animal & Vegan Advocacy Summit!

In Defense of Animals’ Wild Animals Campaigner Katie Nolan attended the Animal & Vegan Advocacy Summit in May where she participated in a panel focused on Crustacean and Insect Advocacy. Her focus was on the often-overlooked world of insects and how critical their protection is, not just for their own wellbeing but for the wellbeing of the environment and humans too! 

The sheer number of insects on the planet is just one of the many reasons why it is so important to extend our advocacy to them. Insects also play a vital role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem, and they provide the food we humans need to survive as well through their industrious activities! According to the USDA, around one in every three bites of food we take is thanks to an animal pollinator. 

More and more evidence is surfacing proving that insects are sentient, intelligent, feel pain, and experience other emotions like joy. In light of this, it is more important than ever that we extend compassion to these small beings by treating them with respect and thoughtfulness. There are so many ways we can do this in our everyday lives!

As individuals, we can take many actions to help insects such as planting native plant species to create pollinator gardens, not consuming insects or their byproducts, and preventing any conflicts with insects in our homes by putting away food and sealing up any cracks. Check out our other tips on how to coexist with insects. 

Watch the full panel on Insect and Crustacean Advocacy at the AVA Summit to hear more about what you can do for insects, and how we as individuals and a society can better work to protect them. Consider donating to support our work to protect all animals, down to the smallest bug!