Ladybug (Ladybird)

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Let your imagination… fly like the lady-bird, “north, south, and east, and west,” but take care that it always comes home to rest. ~Robert Southey (1774–1843), English poet

Once there was a ladybug
A-sittin’ on a tree
Chomping on her dinner
Never minding me.

Ladybugs eat insects
And are considered “good”
So I let her feast unbothered
As she likely hoped I would.

But why are males and females
Called “lady”bugs, I croak?
They’re named for Our Lady, Mary,
In art, wearing a red cloak.

Note: This is some sort of rhyming verse, as best as I can tell. I’m open to learning more, if anybody wants to educate me!

21 thoughts on “Ladybug (Ladybird)”

  1. “But why are males and females
    Called “lady” bugs, I croak?”

    Debbie, I can’t thank you enough for that question because it’s one that I’ve always questioned myself. In fact, many, many years ago I shared a post on my blog asking my readers, “What do you call a male lady bug?!?!” No one could answer. Lol!

    VERY interesting link. Explains a lot.

    Great photograph you captured! And clever verse!

    Have a super Sunday, my friend! X

    • I’m glad to be of help, Ron! It’s always puzzled me why these spotted beetles are called “lady” bugs. I mean, they can’t ALL be females, right??

      So happy you enjoyed my silliness. I’ve always heard that ladybugs are wonderful to have in your garden because they eat bad pests, so it was great seeing this one (instead of those nasty Japanese beetles, which typically show up in June and July).

      Have a spectacular Sunday, my friend! XX

  2. One of the earliest poems I learned was “Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home; your house is on fire and your children are gone.” Just now, I learned that verse goes back to 1750 — who knew? Your poem is proof that ladybugs continue to serve as muses for poets, even today. I’m not sure about the form, except that it’s made up of quatrains: four-line verses.

    We always called them lady ‘bugs,’ even though they’re really beetles; I didn’t know that until a few years ago. But Lady Bird to me now means only one thing: Lady Bird Johnson, who was such an important force behind our highway beautification programs and promoting native wildflowers.

    • I remember that poem from my childhood, too, Linda. It’s always struck me as a bit sad (having a house on fire). I don’t guess all nursery rhymes are as innocent as we’d like, though there’s certainly something to be said for the ease with which they can be recalled!

      You’re spot on about Lady Bird Johnson. She did wonders for the beautification of Texas roadways and conservation of native plants. It’s hard not to think of her fondly when you see all those bluebonnets along the highways!

  3. What a sweet poem, Debbie! When I was a little girl I found it fascinating that my grandmother kept ladybugs in her refrigerator until the best time to release them outside, near her potted begonias, to protect them from aphids. I never knew about the “Our Lady” connection, and what the spots represented — thanks for sharing!

    • In her refrigerator?? Well, now, I never heard of that, but I did know they’re beneficial for getting rid of bad insects. We often find them even in winter months crawling up and down sunny windows, and I just can’t bear to toss them outside in the snow!

  5. I like your poem and your photo. Ladybugs (or Ladybirds) are one bug I will pick up and take outside if I find one alive in the house. Sadly, most I find are dead in the windowsills. I always think of blue for the Virgin!

    • Kelly, it amazes me how they can get inside and seem to exist without food all winter long! I don’t have the heart to throw them out in the snow, where there are no leaves to chomp on — but it’s kind of frustrating to watch them crawl up and down on the windows. I agree: we typically see Mary wearing blue these days; in fact, I’ve never seen her wearing a red veil!

  7. Lovely poem! I didn’t know they ate insects – I assumed they were vegetarians. Over here we confuse it even more by calling them ladybirds, even when they’re not ladies or not birds!

    • Isn’t language fascinating?? How non-English speaking people ever learn to read, write, and speak English baffles — and totally impresses! — me.

  8. Cute and sweet rhyming poem, Debbie. You are talented with words!

    Are you saying that you see blue ladybugs where you live? I’ve never seen or heard of a blue ladybug until today!

    • Thanks for the kind words, TD. No, I’ve never heard of a blue ladybug — did something I said mislead you into thinking that? If so, I’m most sorry. I think the blue came in because most of us these days are used to Our Lady wearing a blue cloak, not a red one. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her pictured wearing red. Wonder where that changed along the way??

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