How come ladybugs are called ladybugs? my friend is wondering because it has the word "lady" in it.
2006-12-29 11:39:28 · 9 answers · asked by *Jamie* 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Yeah, let's get more PC and just call them bugbugs..
2006-12-29 11:49:35 · answer #1 · answered by Get Real 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
According to European folklore, ladybugs symbolize good luck. Many, many years ago, aphids invaded the fields of farmers. When the farmers prayed for help to the Virgin Mary, legend tells us that swarms of little red beetles appeared. They proceeded to eat the aphids and save the crops. The farmers named the beetles “ladybugs” in appreciation of Mary, “Our Lady.”
LADYBUG LEGENDS:
Nearly ALL cultures believe that a Ladybug is lucky.
Killing one is said to bring sadness and misfortune.
In France, if a Ladybug landed on you, whatever ailment you had would fly away with the Ladybug.
If a Ladybug is held in the hand while making a wish, the direction that it flies away to shows where your luck will come from. If the spots on the wings of a Ladybug are more than seven, it's a sign of coming famine. If less than seven, it means
you will have a good harvest.
In Belgium, people believed that if a Ladybug crawled across
a young girl's hand, she would be married within a year.
People in Switzerland told their young children that they were brought to them, as babies, by Ladybugs.
(...and we thought Storks did that)!
In some Asian cultures, it is believed that the Ladybug understands human language, and has been blessed by God,
In Brussels, the black spots on the back of a Ladybug indicate to the person holding it how many children he/she will have.
According to a Norse legend, the Ladybug came to earth
riding on a bolt of lightning.
The Victorians in Britain believed that if a Ladybug alighted on your hand, you would be receiving new gloves.....if it landed on your head, a new hat would be in your future, and so on.
In the 1800's, some doctors used Ladybugs to treat measles! They also believed that if you mashed ladybugs (ewww!) and put them into a cavity, the insects would stop a toothache!
During the Pioneer days, if a family found a Ladybug in their log cabin during the winter, it was considered a "Good Omen".
In the Spring, if numerous Ladybugs are seen flying around,
British farmers say it forecasts many bountiful crops.
Many Bretons believe that the arrival of Ladybugs will bring fair weather.
Folklore suggests if you catch a Ladybug in your home, count the number of spots and that's how many dollars you'll soon find.
In Norway, if a man and a woman spot a Ladybug at the same time, there will be a romance between them.
2007-01-03 16:39:01 · answer #2 · answered by Haley 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main question that comes up, when speaking about the history of Ladybugs, is how they got their name......In the middle ages, farmers were having great difficulty controlling the pests that kept plaguing their crops, mainly aphids and other such plant chewing critters. In an attempt to fix this problem, the resorted to praying to the virgin mother Mary, to help them with this terrible problem. Shortly after, their prayers were seemingly answered, with the arrival of these new beetles. From then on, these bugs became know as "beetles of Our Lady". Over time, this name has become Ladybug, Ladybird, Lady Beetle, Ladybug Beetle etc. So as you can see, throughout history, Ladybugs have been viewed as a gift from heaven!!
2006-12-29 20:04:35 · answer #3 · answered by sharib60 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In Europe, during the Middle Ages, insects were destroying the crops, so the Catholic farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help. Soon the Ladybugs came, ate the plant-destroying pests and saved the crops! The farmers began calling the ladybugs "The Beetles of Our Lady", and they eventually became known as "Lady Beetles"! The red wings represented the Virgin's cloak and the black spots represented her joys and sorrows
2006-12-29 20:01:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Did a search and came up with nothing except it is only in the US the are called that. The name in other languages doesn't even translate into "lady bug". Go figure.
2006-12-29 20:32:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure how they got there name, but aren't they cute ?
Lady Bugs are the cutes bugs of all bugs !
Hope you have a safe and
HAPPY NEW YEAR !
2006-12-29 19:59:53 · answer #6 · answered by Bridget 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
not sure but they r cute
2007-01-04 13:06:23 · answer #7 · answered by ♥Constance♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't know!
2007-01-05 22:53:21 · answer #8 · answered by aspring 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WELL IF THEY WERE CALLED ''MANBUGS'' ; WOULDN'T IT BE STRANGE??!!!
2006-12-29 20:07:18 · answer #9 · answered by Sabrina G 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋