Socrates is famously reported to have described himself as which pest, when making an analogy about how he forced the athenians to engage with difficult questions?

Gadfly. In his Apology for the life of Socrates, according to Plato, Socrates likened himself to a “gadfly” to sting the “steed” of state into acknowledging its duties and obligations. Socrates believed he was sent by the gods to act as a “gadfly” to the Athenian state. He believed that dissent, like the gadfly, was easy to swat, but the cost to society of silencing individuals who were vocal for truth could be very high. He saw the state as “a great and noble steed” which had to be reminded of its proper duties and obligations. He believed he achieved his intentions by stinging the steed of state with the truth, all day long and in all places.