A rose by any other name looks better without aphids. And eating aphids is the specialty of the ladybird beetle, affectionately known as the ladybug. The ladybug earned its nickname by devouring pests that have been tormenting man ever since the Garden of Eden.
Back in the Middle Ages (and before the Age of Insecticides), these beetles appeared just in time to gobble the bugs infesting Italian vineyards, leading farmers to christen them “The Beetles of Our Lady.” That name caught on (except in France, where they’re considered “The Cows of the Lord” of all things.) Englishmen call them ladybird beetles.
We’re in error when we shorten the name to ladybug, for at least in a technical sense, these insects aren’t bugs, but beetles. But at least the name is a short one, more appropriate for their diminutive size.
Several species of ladybugs exist in this country, their names being descriptive of the patterns of lines on their heads and number of spots on their bodies. Most of the insects possess bright red-orange wings, yet in the Southwest you find some ladybird beetles colored a stylish celadon green. Elsewhere, species wear yellow wings marked with black spots. Still others have their colors reversed — orange or yellow or green spots on shiny black backs. (Read the rest …)
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