Ladybugs & History

The beetle of Our Lady.

Seven-spotted ladybugs are native to Europe but were brought to North America in the mid-1900s to control aphid populations.
The name "ladybug" was coined by European farmers who prayed to the Virgin Mary when pests began eating their crops. After ladybugs came and wiped out the invading insects, the farmers named them "beetle of Our Lady." This eventually was shortened to "lady beetle" and "ladybug."