TIL that ladybugs are also called ladybirds

I am Australian and have always known it exclusively as the American term “ladybug”. Never heard of ladybird before.

17 points · 5 comments · view on lemmy.world

5 Comments

maddogx2@feddit.uk · 6 pts · 3y (2 replies)

We call them ladybirds in the UK. No idea why.

tegs_terry@feddit.uk · 4 pts · 3y (1 reply)

Santa Maria is the lady in question. The bird part could be a corruption of 'beetle' maybe? Or perhaps just it just sounded more poetic.

Germany: Marienkäfer (Mary’s beetle)

France: la bete a bon Dieu (good God’s animal)

Russia: Bozhya korovka (God’s little cow)

Greece: paschalitsa (little Easter)

Portugal: joaninha (little Joanne)

Spain: mariquita (little Maria)

Wales: buwch goch gota (small red cow)

Scotland: daolag-bhreac (speckled beetle)

Slovenia: pikapolonica (spotty bug)

Argentina: Vaquita de San Antonio (St. Anthony’s small cow)

We say ladybird in the uk.

Also Australian, never heard of ladybird... Weird