Ladybugs

Ladybugs are the concept of a creature that is essentially a beetle with black polka dots on its back, typically over a red back-ground. Ladybugs, unlike other beetles, are often seen as gentle bugs, along with butterflies. Thus, people who are typically afraid of bugs and beetles often won't be afraid of ladybugs. It is taboo to kill a ladybug, just as it is to kill a butterfly. However, while killing a feminine and delicate butterfly is a symbol of villainy, viciousness, and tragedy and is portrayed in media, killing a kind, womanly ladybug is simply unheard of and not done. Anyone who would do that is just weird and over-bug vicious, is my instinctual cultural understanding of it. Though one video says that if you kill one it'll rain, probably because ladybugs are seen as wish bringers and signs of good luck and rain is depressing. They are sometimes viewed as calming. Thus they are celebrated bugs. A ladybug landing on you is a good sign and desirable, and more common than a butterfly landing on someone.

## Media

While most American children learn of ladybugs early on, they are not often featured in media unless it deals specifically with bugs. Still, they have a good track record. They are featured as main characters in the movies A Bug's Life and James And The Giant Peach. The French series Miraculous Ladybug's heroine and her power-giving friend are ladybug themed. In the first Digimon Adventure series the main character Tentomon was a ladybug, though I personally thought he was just a red beetle, as its a little hard to see his spots. In Pokemon Gold & Silver Ledyba and Ledian were introduced. They are more communal than ladybugs in real life excepting migrations, and are also part boxer and for Ledian, firefly. Ladybugs were one of the couple critters featured in NHK's relaxing On Demand video Insects Awakening.

## Religion

**New Ageism:** Ladybugs are seen as messengers of happiness, prosperity, wish fulfillment, good luck, and kind honesty. They may be viewed as excitable or calm. In some situations the number of spots may be considered important. It seems that though ladybugs themselves invoke and teach you to earn your happiness at a calm and gentle pace, people with ladybugs as a lifelong totem are more excitable and jovial.

## Science

While most of the science is to remain in the proper biological articles, there is some science we can discuss here. Ladybugs are most often attributed to the polka dot varieties and species. However, species can have different patterns, including plain, with stripes, and zigzags. Many of our portrayals are based off of *Harmonia axyridis*, the Asian Ladybird as most sources call it, as it is the most populous ladybug, thriving in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and even parts of Africa. It is an invasive species in North America, having been introduced in 1916 to combat aphids for farmer's crops. In parts of North America they migrate in masses during October and invade peoples homes. As these variants are also often orange with black polkas, they are called Halloween Ladybugs.

## Other

Ladybugs made a debut in Pokemon as Ledyba, Ledian, and Orbeetle.

Natural Grocers is holding an Earth Day pledge, lasting until April 22. It is to never use garden/lawn chemicals that would harm ladybugs and "other beneficial insects". And also to buy organic produce.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUT1jTx3E8E
2. ↑ https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/6042022/
3. ↑ https://www.sunsigns.org/ladybug-animal-totem-symbolism-meanings/
4. ↑ https://www.spirit-animals.com/ladybug-symbolism/
5. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-known-distribution-of-Harmonia-axyridis-based-on-confirmed-reports-of-the-species-in\_fig1\_225264053
6. ↑ https://academic.oup.com/jinsectscience/article/3/1/32/854074?login=true
7. ↑ https://www.naturalgrocers.com/ladybuglove