- November 26, 2025 - Insectarium : Behind the scenes at the Insectarium, Experience
Our society is becoming increasingly sensitive to animal well-being. The Insectarium team is no exception to this trend and has decided to adopt a charter on the ethical management of its collection to ensure the well-being of the insects.
Governments and institutions are part of that trend, adopting legislative frameworks like Québec’s Animal Health Protection Act, or implementing certifications like those of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for zoological institutions.
When we talk about animal well-being, we’re generally referring to large mammals or other vertebrates, whose perception of the world is closer to ours. But recent scientific advances suggest that certain invertebrates are also sentient beings, making it essential to take their well-being into account. The Insectarium de Montréal continues to innovate by adopting its Charter on the Ethical Management of the Live Entomological Collection.
The perception of the world by insects and other invertebrates
Research demonstrates that, despite the apparent simplicity of their nervous systems, some insects can feel pain or the effects of stress. They’re equipped with nociceptors, sensory receptors that detect painful stimuli. Some caterpillars will tend to their wounds, while other insects avoid the dangers of their environments.
In an institution like the Insectarium, where many insects are reared for educational purposes, it’s important to reflect on the ethical issues of our practices and be sure to apply the highest standards when it comes to animal well-being.
A tool for identifying issues and improving our ethical performance
Our Charter defines animal well-being and identifies the best rearing practices. It encompasses all the steps that allow our team of entomologists to integrate and maintain the desired species in our live collection and present them to the public in the appropriate way. Those steps include the choice of suppliers, methods of acquisition and transport, insect care, population management, handling by the public, and so on.
By ensuring best practices along with a more respectful relationship with living things, the Insectarium is improving its ethical record as it continues to present live insects in activities designed to raise awareness and promote biodiversity.
Some of the challenges raised by the Charter
The Charter highlights certain challenges that the Insectarium will need to address. The definition of well-being for arthropods is still vague. We will have to develop relevant indicators. If management of populations in captivity is flawed, that can lead to a surplus of individuals, requiring constant attention by our technicians and a protocol adjustment based on life cycles.
Furthermore, some species presented at the Insectarium cannot be reared in captivity and have to be collected from a natural environment. Our teams are working on developing rearing protocols or alternatives that would put an end to that practice. Finally, the handling of arthropods remains a powerful educational tool, but the impacts on insect health and stress are still very little documented, if at all. To correct that, the Insectarium has implemented an experimental protocol to evaluate and thereby improve our practices, measuring their impact on the growth and behavior of individuals.
The Insectarium is affirming its position as a leader in matters of animal ethics and well-being by bringing the Charter to life. We’re also committed to sharing our knowledge and tools with our network of suppliers and partners. The Charter will continue to evolve as it draws on emerging scientific knowledge and the experience gained by our teams. Feel free to talk about it with our guides on your next visit!
The Charter on the ethical management of the Insectarium’s live entomological collection was developed by the ethical committee of our institution, made up of: Marie-Ève André, Thierry Boislard, Mario Bonneau, Jordane Cousineau, Andre-Philippe Drapeau Picard, Julia Mlynarek, Michel Saint-Germain and Thomas Théry.
