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submitted 1 year ago by AskThinkingTim to c/[email protected]

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I am Australian and have always known it exclusively as the American term “ladybug”. Never heard of ladybird before.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Santa Maria is the lady in question. The bird part could be a corruption of 'beetle' maybe? Or perhaps just it just sounded more poetic.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Germany: Marienkäfer (Mary’s beetle)

France: la bete a bon Dieu (good God’s animal)

Russia: Bozhya korovka (God’s little cow)

Greece: paschalitsa (little Easter)

Portugal: joaninha (little Joanne)

Spain: mariquita (little Maria)

Wales: buwch goch gota (small red cow)

Scotland: daolag-bhreac (speckled beetle)

Slovenia: pikapolonica (spotty bug)

Argentina: Vaquita de San Antonio (St. Anthony’s small cow)