Ladybug Names – Unraveling the Mystery

A ladybug might be one of the smallest creatures you’ll ever see, but it holds more significance and stories than you might think. Unraveling the mystery behind these insects has been a fun and fascinating journey. Here are a few of the most interesting tidbits we’ve discovered about this petite insect.

Ladybugs are actually beetles, in the family Coccinellidae. They are named for the color of their wing covers, which can be yellow, orange, or red and may have spots. They also have black legs, heads, and antennae. In the United States, the species most often associated with fall invasions is the multi-colored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis). The wing colors of these beetles range from yellow to orange to deep red, and they may or may not have dots.

These beetles are known for dining almost exclusively on insects we consider pests, such as aphids. This was a huge boon to old timey farmers who didn’t have easy access to pesticides, and they no doubt gave the insects a lot of thanks for it! This could be the reason why they’re so frequently referred to as “lady beetles” or “lady bugs.” And it also explains why many of their common names across Europe have links to Mary or God (such as Marienkafer in German, or Bozhya Korovka in Russian).

When a female ladybug lays her eggs, they hatch into larvae that look like caterpillars. They’ll spend a few weeks eating aphids until they’re fully grown, then shed their skin and transform into pupae. Once the pupa is ready, it will attach itself to a leaf and enter its next stage of life.

Then, when the weather gets cold, these little beetles will swarm into homes and other buildings in search of a warm place to overwinter. They might even crawl through your cracks and crevices, if they can find them! Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee they won’t be killed by the predators inside. The critters’ best defense is to remain completely still and appear dead, which will deter most birds, spiders, wasps, and frogs.

For more tidbits on this little bug, check out the article The Surprising Story of the Ladybug. You can also take a ladybug name quiz to find the perfect name for your little beetle! It’s completely free to play, and we’ve got a printable worksheet available too. Click here to get started.