Why is the ladybug so named? Why is the "ladybug" called "ladybug"? Why are ladybugs called ladybugs
Both kids and parents know what a black and red insect ladybug looks like. But why is it called that? Probably not many people think about it. Perhaps we just get used to the fact that things or objects that we met in infancy have their own names. Therefore, they do not cause doubts or the question: “Why?” with age.
However, some people, if they reflect on why the ladybug is called that way, they may come to the conclusion that religious overtones are hidden in the name of the tiny creature. And the word "cow" and then? After all, there is nothing in the appearance of a charming beetle that gives it a resemblance to a domestic animal that roams the fields and chews grass in villages and villages.
As you can see, the origin of the name of the black-and-red beetle is full of secrets and mysteries. We will try to understand them in the article.
Is the ladybug so cute?
Those who are familiar with this insect will be interested to see what it is. Perhaps these people will find out the answer to such an exciting question: "Why is the ladybug called that way and not otherwise?". Especially for them, we provided photographs of a black and red insect. As you can see, it is very beautiful.
Although in nature there are many beetles, spiders, cockroaches and other representatives of the class of insects that look unpleasant and cause only disgust, the ladybug, on the contrary, is loved by both adults and children. The latter watch her with special joy and, making wishes or reading funny rhyme released into the sky. And all because this insect seems cute and safe.
But this impression is erroneous. Because the ladybug beetle is actually a predator that eats about 4,000 aphids in its lifetime (a period of thirty to sixty days). But when there is not enough aphids, black-and-red insects migrate and, from hunger, bite everyone, including humans, trying to assess whether it is suitable for food or not. If there is no food at all, and the insects are hungry, they eat each other.
What does the black and red beetle have to do with the Virgin Mary
One of the hypotheses why the ladybug beetle is so called has its roots in the Middle Ages. After all, it was from those times that there was a legend that on the territory of European countries one day the moment came when the vast peasant fields were attacked by aphids. And there was so much of it that the peasants fell into despair. Because absolutely nothing helped in the fight against a harmful insect. And crops of grain crops were instantly destroyed by aphids one after another. It seemed that there was no way out and the year would be lean, and the peasants would soon die, as well as the fruits of their labors.
Then the inhabitants of Europe made a last attempt to escape from the giant hordes of insatiable aphids. They began to pray to the Virgin Mary and soon noticed that in addition to the voracious insect, an unusual bright red creature with black dots on its back appeared in the fields. Thanks to him aphids in short term disappeared.
In those days, people were very superstitious, so the peasants believed that the saving insect was sent in response to their prayers. And they gave it the appropriate name: the bird of the Mother of God, the bug of the Virgin Mary, etc. Here is one of the stories, the shortest, why the ladybug is called that.
Insect in Slavic mythology
But there is another assumption related to the origin of the name of the black-and-red beetle. It is shrouded in mysticism and magic, and the main characters are the gods, who were revered by the Slavs in antiquity.
According to this version, the bug, coloring warning of danger, was originally a beautiful maiden. According to some sources, her name was Perynya. She was cheerful and carefree, but she lived in heaven. Because she was the wife of the great and omnipotent god Perun, with whom she was united by mutual love and seven common children. The family of the Slavic Thunderer was happy. But it lasted for the time being.
And further narration reveals the truth about why the ladybug is called that way.
How the goddess became an insect
To streamline the world, the great Perun was supposed to destroy the enemy - the mythical snake of the tempter. But no matter how much the mighty god spent his strength, no matter how much he chased the elusive enemy, he could not manage to defeat him. And then one day, when the victory of Perun was already close, the insidious serpent hit the most painful place: he managed to kidnap the wife of the Thunderer - the beautiful Perynya.
And all would be fine, the omnipotent Perun would certainly have saved the beauty. But she fell in love with the snake and cheated with him.
The god of thunder and lightning became furious, he turned the beloved into a red beetle, throwing punishing fire at her and hitting her back, on which there were marks in the form of black dots. Perun also did not spare children, turning them into black and red insects. That is why the ladybug is called that way.
The connection between people and Perun
There are many versions by which the tiny creature received such a name. And each person is free to decide for himself which one to believe in. Creative and original adults can even come up with a fairy tale for children why the ladybug is called that. After all, it is much easier for kids to understand information that is presented in the form of a magical story.
Moreover, the ladybug is really considered a magical creature. Because she lives in heaven, and descends to people to “inform” about an upcoming pleasant event. You can’t kill her, because such actions can invite trouble or anger the god Perun, who, despite his decision, loves a wonderful insect.
And this is another hypothesis explaining why the ladybug is called one way and not otherwise.
What does a bright beetle have in common with a cow
So we figured out the reasons for the unusual name of the black-and-red insect. However, it still remains unclear what relationship exists between the insect and the cow. After all, at first glance, they have nothing in common.
But if you study the issue in more detail, it becomes clear that the ladybug, just like the usual one, has a spotted color. In addition, she also gives milk. But it is highly not recommended to feast on them, because it is so poisonous that even an omnivorous tarantula does not risk eating a black-and-red insect for food. And in general, when meeting, he tries to stay as far away from him as possible.
Here are the main reasons why the ladybug was named that way.
At the mention of a ladybug, a children's rhyme immediately comes to mind: “ Ladybug, fly to the sky ... "Perhaps, everyone at least once thought, why exactly the" ladybug ", and besides, the" lady's "? Let's try to understand this children's issue, which is of interest even to adults.
Ladybug is a common insect of the beetle family. It compares favorably with the rest with its bright color: red wings with black dots. In nature, the insect brings great benefit by eating aphids and mites.
ladybug secretes milk
Most likely, she was called a "cow" because of the ability to secrete milk. Well, to be precise, this liquid yellow color and it tastes very bitter. IN large quantities it can even be fatal. Birds and spiders prefer not to touch the ladybug. If swallowed, the secreted milk will cause a burn in the throat. In addition, the bright coloring makes the ladybug completely unappetizing in the eyes of potential predators.
Ladybug is counted in different cultures good messenger
The second part of the name of this insect also has its own explanation. According to ancient legends and tales, a ladybug lives in heaven, and flies to earth as a good messenger. To whom she sits on the palm of her hand, she is sent down God's grace. After all, it is not for nothing that in other countries the ladybug is called the “beetle of the Holy Virgin Mary” (German “Marienkäfer”), “the bird of the Virgin” (English “Ladybug”), “St. Anthony's Cow” (Argentinian “Vaquita de San Antonio”) , "God's hen" (French "Roulette a Dieu").
It is also enough to recall that earlier they used to say about a person "God's", meaning that he is "peaceful, harmless, meek." The same value was projected onto the ladybug.
Ladybug is arthropod, which belongs to the Coleoptera order, the ladybug family (lat. Coccinellidae).
Where did the name ladybug come from?
The scientific name of the ladybug was due to its unusually bright color - the Latin word "coccineus" corresponds to the concept of "scarlet". And the common nicknames that were given to the ladybug in many countries of the world speak of the respect and sympathy of people for this insect. For example, in Germany and Switzerland it is known as the "Virgin Mary's bug" (Marienkaefer), in Slovenia and the Czech Republic the ladybug is called "Sunny" (Slunecko), and many Latin Americans know it as "Saint Anthony's cow" (Vaquita de San Antonio).
The origin of the Russian name for ladybug is not exactly known. Some researchers are inclined to the version that this is due to the ability of an insect in case of danger to secrete "milk" - a special poisonous liquid (hemolymph) that repels predators. And "God's" means meek, harmless. Others believe that these insects received the nickname "ladybugs" due to the fact that they destroy aphids and help preserve the crop.
Ladybug: description, characteristics, photo. What does an insect look like?
The size of a ladybug ranges from 4 to 10 mm. The shape of the body of insects is almost round or elongated-oval, flat below and strongly convex above. Its surface in some species of ladybugs is covered with fine hairs.
In the structure of the body of ladybirds, a head, pronotum, chest, consisting of three sections, three pairs of legs, abdomen, and wings with elytra, are distinguished. The head of the insect is small, fixedly attached to the prothorax and, depending on the species, may be slightly elongated. Ladybug Eyes Relatively big size. The antennae, consisting of 8-11 segments, are highly flexible.
The pronotum of the insect is convex, of a transverse structure, with a notch on the anterior margin. Often there are spots on its surface various shapes. In contrast to the prothorax and mesothorax, which are elongated across the body of the insect, the shape of the metathorax resembles an almost perfect square.
In total, ladybugs have 6 legs, which are of moderate length. In the structure of each paw of the insect, three explicit and one hidden segment are distinguished. With their help, the insect can move quite quickly along the grass or plant stems. The abdomen of ladybugs is made up of five to six segments, covered from below by sternites (segmental semicircles).
Ladybugs fly with two hind wings.
The front wings of the ladybug in the process of evolution were transformed into rigid elytra, which serve as protection for the main pair for the period while the cows are on the ground.
As a defense against predators such as birds, ladybugs secrete cantharidin, a poisonous yellow liquid that has an unpleasant odor.
In addition, the bright colors of the ladybug also scare away potential enemies from her.
The color of the ladybug's protective covers can be bright red, deep yellow, black, dark blue or brown with spots of black, yellow, red or white color different configuration.
In some species of ladybugs, these spots can merge into abstract patterns, in others they are absent altogether. Often the pattern on the pronotum is a sign by which the sex of a ladybug can be distinguished.
Types of ladybugs, names and photos
The numerous family of ladybugs includes more than 4,000 species, divided into 7 subfamilies, which include approximately 360 genera.
Most interesting varieties ladybugs:
- Two-spot cow (lat. Adalia bipunctata)
A beetle with a body length of up to 5 mm, dark red elytra and two large black spots. The prothorax lacks an anterior carina. The pronotum is painted black and has a yellow lateral border.
- Seven-spot cow (lat. Coccinella septempunctata)
The most common ladybug in Europe. The size of a ladybug reaches 7-8 mm. The elytra are colored red, they have one small white spot (at the base) and three large black ones. The seventh spot of the ladybug is located on the pronotum (scutellum).
- Twelve-pointed ladybug (lat. Coleomegilla maculata)
The insect has a length of 6 mm and a pink or red color of the elytra with 6 points on each of them.
- Thirteen-spot cow (lat. Hippodamia tredecimpunctata)
The dimensions of the elongated body of adults range from 4.5 to 7 mm. The elytra of a ladybug is painted red-brown. 13 spots stand out on them, some of which merge with each other.
- Fourteen-spot cow (lat. Propylea quatuordecimpunctata)
She has yellow or black elytra with dots of black or yellow.
- Seventeen-spotted ladybug (lat.Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata )
The body of the insect is 2.5-3.5 mm long. Usually its color is bright yellow, sometimes it can be darker. These live in Europe.
- Asian ladybug (lat. Harmonia axyridis)
The beetle has a body length of up to 7 mm. Within the species, there are two subspecies. In one of them, the color of the elytra is yellow with black spots, both large and small. The prothorax is white with a dark pattern. The second subspecies is characterized by black coloration of the elytra, on which spots of red-orange color are clearly visible. Prothorax black with light yellow spots. This species of ladybug has 19 spots.
- Cow changeable (lat. Hippodamia variegata)
Body size up to 5.5 mm. The pronotum is black and has two yellow spots. On yellow-red elytra, 6 dark spots of various shapes and 1 large spot near the shield. The edges of the black pronotum are framed by a yellow border.
- Ocellated cow (lat. Anatis ocellata)
Enough large insect with body length up to 10 mm. The color of the head and pronotum of this species of ladybug is black with small yellow spots. The elytra are yellow or red, each with black spots surrounded by lighter rims.
- Alfalfa twenty-four-spot ladybird (lat. Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata)
Pest of agricultural crops. small bug with body length adult no more than 4 mm. The entire body of the ladybug is painted red. Elytra and pronotum covered with 24 small black spots.
- Pointless ladybug (lat. Cynegetis impunctata)
Enough rare view ladybugs, the red or brown body of which is covered with small and thin villi. Adult sizes do not exceed 4.5 mm. There are no characteristic points on its elytra and pronotum.
- Ladybug of the genussospita It has several types and color variations.
- Ladybug Halyzia sedecimguttata
The insect has an orange color of elytra with 16 white dots. Lives in Europe and the British Isles.
- Ladybug Anatis labiculata
The insect is white or light gray in color with 15 black dots.
- There is also blue ladybug is Halmus chalybeus .
Its elytra are cast with a blue sheen, and the length reaches 3-4 mm. This insect lives in Australia.
Ladybug (lat. Coccinellidae) belongs to the family of beetles, a type of arthropod, a class of insects. At the sight of an insect, a person involuntarily has a reaction - to slam it as soon as possible, but the ladybug causes sympathy for almost everyone, even women. Some remember the children's song associated with her, others remember that she really helps them out on suburban area- saves the garden from pests. What is the secret of universal sympathy for this beetle? In some cultures, it is forbidden to kill a ladybug, and in the western part it is generally considered a symbol of good luck. Consider the features and lifestyle of this insect, as well as the benefits and harms that it can bring.
Today, no more than 200 insect formations have been studied on the planet, while the number of species is unlimited. The ladybug is a representative of the coccinellid family, has over 4000 types and 360 genera, belongs to the order Coleoptera of the arthropod type. hallmark from the rest of the relatives are apparent three-part tarsals. This is due to the small third segment, which is visually hidden with half of the fourth leg in the sinus of the bilobed process.
The size of a ladybug is on average from 4 mm to 10 mm. The structure of the body is rounded, ovoid, flattened from below, and convex from above. Sometimes the surface is covered with fine villi. It consists of the head, pronotum, breast, which is divided into three parts:
- paws;
- abdomen;
- wings with elytra.
The head is monolithically connected to the prothorax, everything looks like an enlarged cephalothorax. It makes up the main part of the body length, sometimes it is found in an elongated oval shape. Eyes comparatively large size. Well flexible antennae, consist of 8-11 segments.
It has hard expressive elytra. In fact, these are the front flying organs. Over time, the ladybug's wings have changed. On the ground, they perform a protective function. With the help of two rear processes, it flies, it turns out quite well. An interesting fact is that various birds and many vertebrates are hesitant to hunt it. They do not have time to catch, because the insect makes about 85 strokes per second.
Why is the ladybug called that?
Where it got its name from remains an open question to this day. Scientific terminology is coccinellida, the word itself comes from the Latin meaning "scarlet". Many ethnic groups have their own versions of names, for example:
- among Germanic peoples - a bug “Virgin Mary;
- in Anglo-Saxon - "Lady's bird";
- among the Slavic - "Sun";
- among Latin Americans - "St. Anthony's cow";
- among Asians - "red-bearded grandfather."
There are old legends about why the ladybug is so called, let's look at some of them.
She was personified with the heavenly herd of Perun, connected the almighty gods and mortal people, she was credited with magical abilities influence the weather. Catholic faith considered her a messenger Mother of God. The English also associate their names with the Virgin Mary.
The ancient Slavs considered her the messenger of the sun. It was impossible to drive away a heavenly creature, so as not to avert fortune. A beetle that flew into a dwelling was considered to bring peace and grace, so they called it that way - “The Sun”. The very word "God's" symbolized a gullible believer among the Russian ethnic group. The beetle was compared to a harmless creature.
But more likely the word "cow" is associated with physiological feature insect. It secretes milk, but far from the usual - a red, aggressive liquid that forms in the spores of the limbs. The discharge is extremely unpleasant, in large quantities it is deadly for those who decide to feast on it.
Types of ladybugs
The ladybug is not necessarily red, but its coloring is in the form of dots. They may be absent altogether, there are stripes, patterned spots, commas on the shell. The most common type is the seven-spot beetle. It lives almost throughout Europe, its dimensions reach 7 mm, the elytra are burgundy, two spots are placed at the base. light color, one dark one is visible on the pronotum, there are three specks on the elytron.
According to the number of dots and color, they are also divided:
- two-spotted, usually 5 mm dark scarlet with 2 large black markings;
- twelve to 6 mm, have pinkish elytra, on which 6 pieces are observed;
- thirteen-pointed up to 7mm, with brownish wings;
- fourteen-point - with a yellow color and black spots on them or vice versa;
- seventeen-dot identical color sizes from 2.5 to 3.5 mm;
- variable, sometimes with black pronotum with 2 brownish spots, contrasting markings at the base of yellowish-red elytra;
- blue is found on the Australian mainland, has a beautiful tint of blue, green tonality;
- white or light gray - up to 15 marks, are less common, like brown solid ones.
Ladybug's bright warning coloration
The ladybug is endowed with a bright color that helps in the struggle for existence and instills fear in enemies, most often birds. This is one example of mimicry green color grasshoppers or the ability of a chameleon to merge with environment for the purpose of self-preservation.
The flashy colors of the natural wilderness serve as warning signs of the toxicity and inedibility of the observed prey. There is a theory that what brighter color beetle, the less likely it is to be attacked by enemies. expressive color various kinds ladybug speaks of mortal danger. It fades with age.
Ladybugs live almost all over the world except for the northern latitudes. Their life cycle depends on the availability of food. The active stage falls at the time of the extermination of aphids, the main diet of these insects, i.e. from spring to autumn. They live from a couple of months to one year, occasionally stretching up to two.
A solitary lifestyle is acceptable to them, they settle in groups for wintering or for mating. They feel comfortable in open areas with grassy vegetation on:
- the edges of the forest;
- steppes, meadows;
- gardens.
In search of food, they crawl through plants, periodically flying to long distance. They do it easily, silently. But how long an individual lives, he always wakes up early and works all day long, destroying pests. She is warm-hearted optimum temperature for her +10 C, in other periods it is in the winter.
How and where do ladybugs winter?
Sedentary varieties of ladybugs gather in cold weather large groups sometimes up to millions of individuals. In winter, they look for secluded places, hide under the remains of leaf fall, dry wood, stones, where they expect heat to come. They can fly into rooms, hide between window frames, folds of curtains, arrange nesting among the trees.
There are species of beetles that fly away in flocks for wintering in southern latitudes. Recently, the traits of adaptability to the environment have become not only bright colors or toxic liquid released in case of danger. More and more their group clusters are observed. This is still inexplicable, but the spectacle is colorful.
If "sleepy colonies" are found, do not interfere with them. And it is better to think about how many pests will be destroyed in the future. Move them to a comfortable place, having previously collected them in a jar, let them calmly finish their hibernation.
What do ladybugs eat? Are they predators?
characteristic feature insects of the Coleoptera order is a gnawing type of mouth apparatus. The ladybug has similar anatomical characteristics. Structure digestive system originates from the mouth opening of the head and ends on the abdomen with the anal passage. Between them lies the intestinal canal. This allows the insect to eat complex molecular food with a high energy reserve.
Simply put, coccinellida is a predator, it eats its own kind. Diet preferences are given to:
- spider mites;
- small caterpillars;
- butterfly eggs, Colorado beetles;
- larvae of insect pests.
There is also a species that feeds on plant foods: pollen, flowers and leaves, mycelium, fruits.
Ladybugs breed several times a year, in spring or autumn. In temperate latitudes, this is the beginning of May. The female becomes sexually mature at the age of 3-6 months. As a rule, after a cold period, she is able to emit a pungent odor that attracts males. Dies after laying eggs.
The female places her eggs on vegetation with an abundance of aphids, which provides food for future offspring in advance. They have an elongated shape, narrowed towards the end, painted in yellowish-orange colors. One masonry can have from several to 400 pieces, located in even rows, close to each other. Sometimes they can be eaten by their own relatives, the so-called cannibal larvae.
Ladybug larvae - what do they look like?
Further development occurs in the course of 4-7 days, has several stages. The larvae are oval. They look variegated due to yellow-orange spots that form a pattern. Body surface with bristles, peculiar outgrowths. Newborn ladybugs feeding on mealybugs are covered with whitish waxy threads. Grow all 2-4 weeks.
After this stage comes the moment of pupation. To go into it, the individual is attached with the back of the body to the leaf plate, folded into a half-bent position. At the end of the internal transformation, the skins peel off from the pupa, sliding like a stocking to the end of the abdomen. It does not lose its bright color with black, yellow speckles. Then, from 7 to 10 days, an adult is formed.
The benefits and harms of a ladybug
The boundless voracity of this predatory beetle is of great benefit to household plots, agricultural crops, because it eats aphids. Being in the larval stage, the coccinellida absorbs prey up to 50 pieces per day. An adult insect eats up to 100 aphids. They help plants by cleaning crops from pests. Therefore, they are even bred at specialized enterprises, and then distributed over the fields with the help of aviation.
But herbivorous species of these beetles can cause harm, their habitats are located in Asia. There they cause significant damage to crops. In our area, some harm vegetables: potatoes, sugar, beets, tomatoes and cucumbers.
Ladybug Enemies
How many species of ladybugs, numbering in the thousands, would not exist, the insect has long been placed on the pages of the Red Book not only of Russia, but also of the planet. They don't have many enemies. Birds, frogs, lizards try to eat them, but congenital effective means defenses do not allow to become food for many.
Indirect factors of extinction are human impact on natural environment. There is a mass destruction of aphids, on the populations of which the existence of the beetle depends. General pollution of the environment is also detrimental to all animals.
Ladybug is an ancient insect. The law protects him from extermination not only for this reason. Mass disappearances will lead to the deterioration of not only cultivated vegetation, but the whole of nature. To maintain balance, humanity needs to be more attentive to this problem.
Thanks to the abundance of all kinds of sayings, the name of this insect is familiar to everyone from childhood. Who, having seated a ladybug in the palm of his hand, did not ask her to “fly to heaven and bring bread”? But why was this insect dubbed the “cow”, because it definitely does not look like the animal of the same name?
Why is the caravan here?
If you refer to " explanatory dictionary living Great Russian language "by the famous ethnographer Vladimir Dahl, then the appearance of the name of the insect can be associated with the word" loaf ". The fact is that in reality many rounded objects got their names precisely because of the “loaf”, that is, their names are derived from this noun. For example, carpenters called this a rounded cut at the end of a log, and in some regions of Russia they call it that. White mushroom. The mentioned insect also has a similar shape.
How did it happen that 2 such different words how did "loaf" and "cow" turn out to be related? This secret is revealed by the School Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language, edited by Shansky and Borova. According to the dictionary, Ancient Rus'"loaf" was written through 2 "o" - "cow". But over time, akanye became entrenched in the language, and the “loaf” acquired the spelling familiar to us.
Ladybug milk
However, there is another version of the origin of the "ladybug". This insect has several ways to protect against all sorts of enemies. In addition to the bright coloring, which warns of the poisonousness of the cow, a yellow-orange liquid is released on its paws. The people called this secret "milk". Due to the fact that domestic animals of the same name also give milk, the insect received the same name only in a diminutive form.
sent by God
But in connection with what the cow became "lady's"? There are also several assumptions regarding this adjective. The main version is the fact that these insects are very useful, as they destroy aphids that are harmful to plants. A ladybug can eat up to 200 insects per day. Thanks to this circumstance, apparently noticed by our ancestors, the harvest remains untouched. But it was the productivity that was considered in Rus' as one of the factors of well-being. Therefore, the cow was christened God's, that is, sent by God himself to help.
It is interesting that in other languages the name of this insect is somehow also associated with its "divine" beginning. So, in Germany, the ladybug is called the beetle of the Holy Virgin Mary, and in Argentina - the ladybug of St. Anthony.
According to another version, earlier in Rus', people, on the contrary, did not even know that this insect is a real predator. And therefore, his harmless and even cheerful appearance prompted them to christen the insect a ladybug, by analogy with a godly man. This definition once referred to naive and gullible natures.
