Multiple outlets report on new research that substantially raises the estimated number of insect species on Earth. For decades, a commonly cited figure has been about 6 million insect species. The new estimate suggests the planet could host roughly three times that amount, with a range reported between 14 million and 20 million species, and one study description putting the global total near 20.3 million. The research relies on field data and scaling methods, including extensive surveys conducted in Costa Rica and extrapolation from those observations to the wider planet. Other reporting describes the approach as combining insect “bug trap” findings with additional sources of information, such as epidemiological considerations and ecological relationships tied to trees. Across coverage, the central point is that insect biodiversity is much larger than previously estimated and that most species remain unknown to science. The findings also strengthen the case that insect conservation could be important, particularly as declines in insect populations are documented in parts of the world.