By the time he was 10 our son would have known better but I remember when each of my sons was about two, they had completely different reactions to small creatures. The older one would see an insect and want to pick it up and hold it and take care of it. You younger one at two would see an insect, say, “bug” and stomp on it. Since my husband has a degree in entomology, we worked to teach all our children and now our granddaughter to learn about insects and respect them. We do swat misquitors however and brown recluse spiders but we are pretty fond of wolf spiders and even most of the wasp family. Paper wasps (not very many where we live) are the only ones who will really attack you. And yes, we like snakes and taught the kids how to stay away until a grown up IDed it.
My son is 10 now and he knows the rules well. Wasps, flies, mosquitoes, and roaches in the house need to be killed. They are intruders and they are harmful. Outside we leave them alone unless they show signs of trying to get in. We do not harm animals unless they pose a threat. Water moccasins around the fishing pond are a threat, as are copperheads in the yard. Otherwise we leave them alone. When I was a kid I used to burn bugs with a magnifying glass, but I have taught my kids better.