June 13th — a day when even the sternest adults smile upon seeing a tiny red bug with black spots on a leaf. Ladybug Day. An unofficial, ecological holiday celebrated by nature lovers in Europe, America, and gradually in Russia. Why does the ladybug deserve a separate date? What is so useful about it? And why is its name associated with God? Let's crawl along the leaves with this cute creature together. History of the Holiday Ladybug Day (Ladybug Day) is celebrated on June 13th. It was invented in the 1990s in the United States by amateur entomologists to draw attention to useful insects. Gradually, the holiday spread to Europe. In Russia, it has been celebrated since the 2010s, mainly in schools and nature conservation centers. The date was chosen not by chance: in the northern hemisphere, ladybugs are most active in mid-June: they come out of hibernation, mate, and look for aphids. Why "Ladybug" In different languages, the name of the bug is associated with the divine. In Russian — bожья коровка. According to legend, the insect brings luck and belongs to God. To kill it is a sin. In English — ladybug (lady-beetle), in honor of the Virgin Mary. In German — Marienkäfer (Mary's Beetle). In French — bête à bon Dieu (good God's creature). In common: the red color is associated with the cloak of the Virgin Mary, and the seven spots — with seven sorrows or joys. In the pagan tradition, the ladybug was considered a messenger of the sun. Biology: What Lies Behind the Beauty The ladybug is a beetle from the family Coccinellidae. There are about 5,000 species in the world, 200 in Russia. The most common is the seven-spotted ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata). It eats aphids: one individual eats up to 100 aphids a day! The larva is even more voracious — up to 400. In winter, ladybugs enter diapause, gathering in huge clusters under bark, in fallen leaves. In the spring, they wake up and give birth. They live for 1-2 years. Coloration: A Warning to Predators Red ... Read more