Neither a lady, nor a bird.

Not even a lady bug as I have just learned that coccinellidae are not considered true bugs (hemiptera).

A whole loveliness (yes, that’s the collective noun for lady beetles). Properly fitting for an insect that in German alone has (according to Wikipedia) 1500 different regional names. The most common one is Marienkäfer which ties in with the English lady bug as the lady referenced is the Virgin Mary. The one I am most familiar with is Herrgottskäfer (apparently a protestant way to omit mentioning Mary by calling it Lord’s beetle). Himmelskäfer (heaven’s beetle) has the same explanation. Sometimes they are very plainly known as Junikäfer (June bugs) and thus prone to be mixed up with other beetles. The most prosaic is Lausfresser (aphid eater) yet it describes its helpfulness for gardeners. The one I like best is Flimmflämmke just for the sound of it (pronounced something like flim-flem-ka) and possibly has to do with its flame red colour.

What other names of ladybirds are known in English? Do you have them in Australia?

Linked to Friday Fun: Another.