Main Entry: la·dy·bug

Pronunciation: \ˈlā-dē-ˌbəg\

Function: noun

Etymology: Our Lady, the Virgin Mary

Date: 1699

: any of numerous small nearly hemispherical often brightly colored often spotted beetles (family Coccinellidae) of temperate and tropical regions that usually feed both as larvae and adults on other insects (as aphids) —called also lady beetle, ladybird, ladybird beetle

[ladybug illustration]