Can insects feel pain?

Answer 1

I think they do depending on what is done to them. Like if you pull off one leg or something.

Answer 2

When you spray an insect with some of the slower-acting pesticides, they can certainly put on a show that would convince you they are in horrible pain--they twitch and seize and lose all control of themselves. However, research into the area has not turned up any conclusive evidence that the insects are experiencing "pain" as humans would know it. They lack certain parts of the nervous system, called nociceptors, which are those endings of the nerves which send the signals that our brain recognizes and translates into "pain."

Others say that even if insects don't feel physical pain, that they still suffer from a mentally traumatic reaction due to their sudden immobility and uncoordination, perhaps even a foreknowledge of their death. However, studies have shown that insects lack the intelligence to form these sorts of thoughts: although they may instinctually react to the pesticide by scrabbling around madly, whether they feel any emotion about this is not likely.

So, in the end, there is a good chance that you are not causing any suffering by using insecticide, or at least not in the sense that we humans would recognize. However, if you're still feeling queasy, you could always take the advice of some of the other posters, and try to shoo the offending bug out the window. ;)

Answer 3

Probably not as we know it because they have a less well developed nervous system than vertebrates for example. Insects such as cockroaches have a series of what's called neural ganglia providing neural feedback to each segment of their bodies. Each ganglion isn't much more complex than the brains.
When female praying Mantids eat the heads off of their mates while the males continue to copulate indicates a reduced pain sensation. The same can be said for cockroaches that are dissected alive in university zoology lab classes.....still kicking!

Answer 4

Yes. Any creature with a nervous system theoretically can experience "pain". I am not an expert in plant science, but I believe plants do not have a nervous system, and, yet, there is evidence that some plants do experience some kind of "pain". We are only beginning to understand pain because, to understand any perception, including pain, is to understand the interconnectedness of all energy and energy fields around us and that compose us.

Answer 5

YES, INSECTS CAN FEEL PAIN...

Insects have a well-developed nervous system, based on a double cord of nerves that stretches the length of the body. An insect's brain collects information from its numerous sense organs, but unlike a human brain, it is not in sole charge of movement. This is controlled by a series of nerve bundles called ganglia, one for each body segment, connected by the nerve cord. Even if the brain is out of action, these ganglia continue to work.

KKG

Answer 6

Yes, pain is a tool animals use to survive. We even have mutant fruit flies that are missing the gene for feeling pain, and are using information about them to help humans with pain disorders.

Answer 7

I remember a particular science teacher saying that if you pithed a frogs brain, you could disect them well they were still alive without them feeling any pain. After saying this she did comment that nobody has ever asked the frog's opinion on the matter. ;)

Answer 8

Yeah they can had a tarantula as a kid and the pet shop guide that said they did not like to be blown on so as a kid I blew on him till he started making a high pitched squeek and then he squirted what looked like a gas in my face that burned about 6 time worst than mace yes been maced twice but the book did not say that would happen was hard to get off too.

Answer 9

Insect's nervous systems are quite simple so they do not feel pain the same way as humans do.

Answer 10

ya most probably. everything feels pain i think. the only difference with insects is that they dont make sounds when theyre in pain so i guess it makes us feel less guilty if we torture them by spraying them with ridsect or just stepping on them

Answer 11

Well,pain is neurons firing and sending messages to the nerve cells,and since insects have neurons and nerve cells,I would imagine that they would.