Multiple outlets report a new scientific estimate that Earth has far more insect species than previously thought. For decades, researchers widely cited an estimate of about 6 million insect species worldwide. The new study revises that figure upward, suggesting Earth could have roughly 14 to 20 million insect species, with at least one report describing an upper estimate of about 20.3 million. The estimate is based on fieldwork in Costa Rica, where researchers conduct extensive surveys and then scale the results to the global insect population. The findings imply that a large share of insect biodiversity remains undocumented and unknown to science. The reports also connect the estimate to broader concerns about insect declines linked to human activities, noting that the possibility of many unrecorded species increases the stakes for understanding and conserving ecosystems. Across the coverage, the central point is that insect species richness is substantially higher than earlier global estimates, while uncertainty remains because not all regions and taxa are comprehensively surveyed.