Illustration of ladybug
ladybug
noun
la·dy·bug
ˈlā-dē-ˌbəg 
: 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 (such as aphids)
called also lady beetle, ladybird, ladybird beetle
Examples of ladybug in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The educational wooden puzzle board game comes with five double-sided puzzle cards for picture matching and large ladybug pieces sized just right for tiny hands.
—
Samantha McIntyre, Parents, 24 Oct. 2023
For her special day, Hope dressed up as a little ladybug, while her mom wore a realistic butterfly clip in her hair.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 22 Oct. 2023
The designer clothing website Matches now offers a garden’s worth of veggie earthenware from the 139-year-old Portuguese ceramics manufactory Bordallo Pinheiro, including plates that look like ragwort leaves, each affixed with a high relief ladybug.
—Alexa Brazilian Mari Maeda and Yuji Oboshi, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2023
Fact check:Experts say Asian lady beetles can harm pets, but only in large amounts More:Study reveals how ladybugs fold their wings for flight What do ladybugs eat? Ladybugs eat aphids and other small insects.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 26 May 2023
Along with our native ladybugs, the Asian lady beetles feed on aphids and other soft-bodied insects that damage plants and crops.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2023
The ladybug begins life as a spiky black crawler; the garden tiger moth starts out life as an extravagantly furred caterpillar.
—Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2023
Biological control, also called biocontrol, has had many stunning victories, from ladybugs that saved the California citrus industry in the late 1800s to weevils that helped save the Florida Everglades from an onslaught of invasive trees a century later.
—Nala Rogers, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
For a really simple DIY, dress them in comfy clothing (black and red shirts), and create bee stripes with yellow tape and ladybug spots with black circles.
—Juliana Labianca, Good Housekeeping, 21 Aug. 2023
See More
Samantha McIntyre, Parents, 24 Oct. 2023
For her special day, Hope dressed up as a little ladybug, while her mom wore a realistic butterfly clip in her hair.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 22 Oct. 2023
The designer clothing website Matches now offers a garden’s worth of veggie earthenware from the 139-year-old Portuguese ceramics manufactory Bordallo Pinheiro, including plates that look like ragwort leaves, each affixed with a high relief ladybug.
—Alexa Brazilian Mari Maeda and Yuji Oboshi, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2023
Fact check:Experts say Asian lady beetles can harm pets, but only in large amounts More:Study reveals how ladybugs fold their wings for flight What do ladybugs eat? Ladybugs eat aphids and other small insects.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 26 May 2023
Along with our native ladybugs, the Asian lady beetles feed on aphids and other soft-bodied insects that damage plants and crops.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2023
The ladybug begins life as a spiky black crawler; the garden tiger moth starts out life as an extravagantly furred caterpillar.
—Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2023
Biological control, also called biocontrol, has had many stunning victories, from ladybugs that saved the California citrus industry in the late 1800s to weevils that helped save the Florida Everglades from an onslaught of invasive trees a century later.
—Nala Rogers, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
For a really simple DIY, dress them in comfy clothing (black and red shirts), and create bee stripes with yellow tape and ladybug spots with black circles.
—Juliana Labianca, Good Housekeeping, 21 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ladybug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Our Lady, the Virgin Mary
First Known Use
1699, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near ladybug
Cite this Entry
“Ladybug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ladybug. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
ladybug
noun
la·dy·bug
-ˌbəg
: any of numerous small roundish-backed often brightly colored and spotted beetles that usually feed both when young and adult on other insects (as aphids)
More from Merriam-Webster on ladybug
Nglish: Translation of ladybug for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of ladybug for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ladybug
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