It’s not like “bug” is a scientific word or has a universally accepted definition. The narrowest (and possibly the original) definition is just hemiptera, an order of insects. It being more broadly synonymous with “insect”, is pretty common; so is the broader definition including all land arthropods. But an even broader definition including all land invertebrates isn’t unheard of.
I would argue a snail is not a bug under any circumstances. That’s would either be a poor grasp of English, complete inability to count, or impressive levels of ignorance.
But I would totally accept if someone failed to distinguish a hemipteran from another six-legged arthropod and called them both bugs. That’s normal.
It’s not like “bug” is a scientific word or has a universally accepted definition. The narrowest (and possibly the original) definition is just hemiptera, an order of insects. It being more broadly synonymous with “insect”, is pretty common; so is the broader definition including all land arthropods. But an even broader definition including all land invertebrates isn’t unheard of.
I would argue a snail is not a bug under any circumstances. That’s would either be a poor grasp of English, complete inability to count, or impressive levels of ignorance.
But I would totally accept if someone failed to distinguish a hemipteran from another six-legged arthropod and called them both bugs. That’s normal.