Thank you very much Carol, I’ve updated the article . 2 0. 5.8K likes. When the male ladybug finds the female ladybug, it grabs the female ladybug from behind and holds on tight, gripping the female Elytra with it’s two front legs. The male ladybug climbs on top of the female ladybug during the mating phase. But the word coccinellids is derived from the Latin word coccineus which means ‘scarlet’, so there is some element of logic behind the name.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'ladybugplanet_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',105,'0','0'])); Let’s look at what we officially know about the Etymology of Ladybird, then explore what legend says about this. This is usually the type of ladybug that is collected and sold as a natural pest control for gardeners. In the Americas mostly Ladybugs. small round bright-colored and spotted beetle that usually feeds on aphids and other insect pests. The name ladybird contains a reference to Mary, mother of Jesus, often referred to as Our Lady, a convention that occurs in other European cultures where the insect is similarly addressed. Said to represent the seven joys and seven sorrows. It is said, two (or more farmers), were inspecting their crops and discussing how blighted by aphids they were. It’s amazing what you can find out! There are about 5,000 different species of these insects, and not all of them have the same appetites. What is a Group of Ladybugs Called? Aphids, spider mites, scale insects, whiteflies, leaf beetle larvae, some insect eggs and small caterpillars. So is it Ladybug or Ladybird? The family is commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in Britain and other parts of the English-speaking world. We pretty much know the term ladybird came first. Usually, epilachnines are only minor agricultural pests, eating the leaves of grain, potatoes, beans, and various other crops, but their numbers can increase explosively in years when their natural enemies, such as parasitoid wasps that attack their eggs, are few. The Virgin Mary was depicted wearing a red cape with seven spots. The insects commonly known as ladybugs (or ladybirds, in the UK and other English-speaking nations) include a number of species from the Coccinellidae family. In the US we mostly call them Ladybug. In only a week or two later, the pupa becomes an adult ladybug. In the UK the general name is Ladybird. Of course these insects are not birds, but butterflies are not flies, nor are dragonflies, stoneflies, mayflies, and fireflies, which all are true common names in folklore, not invented names. The seven joys and sorrows referring to religious meanings. Ladybugs are known by several other names: lady beetles, ladybug beetles, and ladybird beetles. Ladybird. Ladybug was used from around 1900, but both words have been in use since. To start with, we we have to go right back to the dark ages… Well almost. But what about everywhere else? If you ask an Entomologist, they will tell you it’s neither a bird nor a beetle. The two can stay together for more than two hours. So to answer the original question, there is no difference … at least not in the Ladybugs themselves. These incredible insects are happy in many different habitats , including grasslands, forests, cities, suburbs and along rivers. So, even though the common ladybug is native to America, there are people around the world who believe that it is a symbol of good luck. This site is owned and operated by Pamela-Anne and Michael Chamberlain. Required fields are marked *. When I started this website I didn’t know all these names existed for one tiny bug… sorry, Beetle! The family is commonly known as ladybugs in North America, and ladybirds in Britain and other parts of the English-speaking world. In Euskara (Basque language) we refer to this animal as marigorringo, which can be translated as redlady or redmary more or less. All rights reserved, In Suffolk County, England – they’re also known as ‘Golden-knop’ or ‘Golden-bugs’, In Norfolk County, England – they have variations of. I believe this to be the origin of the term "sacre bleu".) Ladybugs are also called lady beetles or, in Europe, ladybird beetles. The 22-spot ladybug is one of the smaller types of beetles in the Coccinellidae family measuring only 5 mm. Scientific Classification. Seven-spot ladybirds are native to Europe but were introduced to North America in the mid-1900s to control aphid populations. We've detected that you are using AdBlock Plus or some other adblocking software which is preventing the page from fully loading. Thank you, Christian! The family is commonly known as ladybugs in North America, and ladybirds in Britain and other parts of the English-speaking world. The colour of the ladybird/ladybug represents this cloak, whilst the seven spots in the commonest European species (Coccinella 7-punctata) represent Mary's seven sorrows.