LADYBIRD

ladybug, ladybeetle, lady beetle, ladybird, ladybird beetle

(noun) small round bright-colored and spotted beetle that usually feeds on aphids and other insect pests

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

ladybird (plural ladybirds)

Any of the Coccinellidae family of beetles, typically having a round shape and red or yellow spotted elytra.

Synonyms: ladybug (North America), coccinellid, lady beetle (preferred by some scientists), lady cow (obsolete), lady fly (obsolete)

Usage notes

The term ladybird is used both in British and in US English, although the alternative ladybug is common in the US.

Source: Wiktionary

La"dy*bird`, n. Etym: [Equiv. to, bird of Our Lady.] (Zoöl.)

Definition: Any one of numerous species of small beetles of the genus Coccinella and allied genera (family Coccinellidæ); -- called also ladybug, ladyclock, lady cow, lady fly, and lady beetle. Coccinella seplempunctata in one of the common European species. See Coccinella.

Note: The ladybirds are usually more or less hemispherical in form, with a smooth, polished surface, and often colored red, brown, or black, with small spots of brighter colors. Both the larvæ and the adult beetles of most species feed on aphids, and for this reason they are very beneficial to agriculture and horticulture.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition