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
How to tell the difference between ladybugs and Asian lady beetles?
Asian lady beetles are slightly larger than ladybugs.
—
Jordan Green, The Tennessean, 25 Oct. 2024
Scientists found in a 2020 study in BMC Genomics that, after testing how ladybugs functioned when consuming aphids versus alternative prey, ladybugs didn’t fare as well when exclusively eating non-aphids.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 7 Oct. 2024
What to know and how to get rid of these insects
Both ladybugs and Asian beetles hibernate during winter and reappear in the spring, making fall a common time for infestations and mix-up of the two species.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 31 Oct. 2024
Unlike distinctly red ladybugs, these beetles are more orange or black.
—Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024
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Jordan Green, The Tennessean, 25 Oct. 2024
Scientists found in a 2020 study in BMC Genomics that, after testing how ladybugs functioned when consuming aphids versus alternative prey, ladybugs didn’t fare as well when exclusively eating non-aphids.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 7 Oct. 2024
What to know and how to get rid of these insects
Both ladybugs and Asian beetles hibernate during winter and reappear in the spring, making fall a common time for infestations and mix-up of the two species.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 31 Oct. 2024
Unlike distinctly red ladybugs, these beetles are more orange or black.
—Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ladybug
Dictionary Entries Near ladybug
Cite this Entry
“Ladybug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ladybug. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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)
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