Ladybirds or Ladybugs?

The word Ladybird is the most commonly used form of the common name for the Coccinellidae. It is used in Australia, India, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom and parts of Canada and the US. The other popular form of the common name is Ladybug and is used in North America. But the form of the name preferred by entomologists is Ladybird Beetle or Lady Beetle as the Ladybird is not a true bug, i.e. the Hemiptera  order.

Other Ladybird Names

Other lesser used forms of name for the Coccinellidae are god's cow, ladyclock, lady cow and lady fly. There have been many regional UK names as well such as golden knop and variations on Bishop Barnaby, the bishop-that-burnith and Burnabee.

Old English Ladybirds

The name Ladybird has been used in England for over 600 years for the species Coccinella  Septempunctata but has been widen to all species. The lady for whom it relates to is believed to be ‘the Virgin Mary’ and is associated with its seven spots and the seven sins.