The Insectarium has adopted a charter on the ethical care and management of live insects and other arthropods it presents to the public. This document outlines the museum’s guiding principles and values to ensure the animals’ well-being. Below are the key points.
Principles of the Insectarium’s ethical charter
The Insectarium’s ethical charter is guided by the following principles:
- Insects and other arthropods reared at the Insectarium must be kept in conditions that ensure their health and well-being. These conditions must allow for natural behaviours to be expressed.
- In the absence of scientific data for a given taxonomic group, the precautionary principle must be applied.
- Arthropod species reared at the Insectarium must be kept for educational, research, and/or conservation purposes.
- Euthanasia must be avoided whenever possible and, when necessary, carried out in an ethical manner.
- The Insectarium’s breeding activities must have no impact on wild populations of insects and other arthropods.
- Educational and research activities involving live arthropods must have minimal to no impact on the health and well-being of the individuals in care.
- Health and welfare indicators must be assessed periodically.
- The Insectarium’s overall ethical balance must be positive. The museum must reasonably balance the well-being of arthropods with its educational mission.
Scope of application
This charter applies exclusively to the species or individual reared in the Insectarium’s live collections. It also covers insects temporarily housed to support museum activities.
Ethical measures are in place for the removal of arthropods considered pests within the museum’s premises.
Inventory, breeding, and acquisition
Entomology staff maintain an up-to-date inventory of the Insectarium’s live collection.
This inventory includes information on the initial and current population of each species housed at the museum, as well as records of donations and euthanasia procedures.
Arthropods are bred following standardized protocols, which are revised as needed for each species. These protocols ensure that species in the live collection are kept in conditions that promote their well-being. Each species must receive appropriate care.
Species selection
For a species to be added to the Insectarium’s live collection, the following conditions must be met:
- The species must serve an identified purpose in the exhibition and/or be part of a planned research or conservation project.
- A literature review must be conducted to ensure that the Insectarium can provide appropriate conditions for the species’ well-being.
- A preliminary breeding protocol must be shared with members of the Insectarium team.
- All required import permits must be obtained.
The museum must also ensure that its suppliers adhere to ethical standards when transporting individuals to be added to the collection. Preference is given to arthropods bred in captivity, and all received specimens are subject to verification.
Population management
Effective population management is one of the most important aspects of the ethical care of a live collection. A maximum population size must be established and respected for each species.
The Insectarium implements both preventive and corrective measures to control populations, such as regulating reproduction or destroying eggs.