Ladybug Definition – Is the Ladybug a Bird Or a Bug?

ladybug definition

Ladybug Definition – Is the Ladybug a Bird Or a Bug?

Ladybug definition is an often difficult task for many people, primarily because the scientific community is not unanimous on this topic. Many people believe that the “ladybug” must be a member of the ladybird order Clima domestica, while others believe that it should be classified as a separate wingless insect, distinct from the ladybird. The facts are confusing because although the two are commonly referred to as ladybirds, they are actually unrelated insects.

DescriptionCoccinellida is an extensive family of small wingless insects ranging in size from less than 0.8 millimeters to about 18 millimeters. The entire family is called ladybirds in North America and red ladybugs in Britain and elsewhere in the English-speaking world. There is a large group of ladybug species referred to collectively as “ladybirds”, but there are many well-known and relatively minor subspecies within this large and complex group. It is estimated that more than thirty thousand ladybugs exist today.

In short, the most common ladybug definition is the visual phenomenon of a small red or yellow fuzzy body with dark spots on it. Different cultures have created different meanings for ladybug identification, and there is even a term for ladybug lovers. In the United States, the most commonly used term is “bugs and slugs” (referenced in the song by the comedian Bill Cosby). In other countries, it may be referred to as “finches” or “sea Urchins”. Regardless of the terminology employed, it is a true insect, not a bird.