Neighbor Larry found this bevy of ladybugs hibernating in his woodshed on one of the coldest days of the winter so far.Ladybugs hibernate until the night-time temperatures rise above freezing for several days in a row. In the spring and summer ladybugs lay up to 1,000 eggs in the course of a season. A ladybug can live up to two years.
How did the ladybug get its name? Here is the answer from www.ladybuglady.com:
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.
Do you know what a male ladybug is called? Ladybug. Now that's politically correct.
Great Blog! & content! New blog on the Hx. of the Ladybug:
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Here in the land of the Kiwi, we call them ladybirds. Don't ask me why!
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