Not all bugs are bad. Insects get labeled as "pests" when they start causing harm to people or the things we care about, like plants, animals, and buildings. Out of nearly one million known insect species, only about one to three percent are ever considered pests.

Are insects helpful or harmful?

Insects provide useful services to mankind and the environment in a number of ways. They keep pest insects in check, pollinate crops we rely on as food, and act as sanitation experts, cleaning up waste so that the world doesn't become overrun with dung.

What percentage of all insects are harmful to humans?

Approximately 1 percent to 3 percent of all known insects are harmful to humans, animals, and plants.