Have you ever wondered where some bugs and insects get their names from? Some of them are easy to understand like a silverfish. Its name comes from the fish-like way that it slithers across the floor. The coloring of these little pests are silver as the name suggests. There also is a stick bug that looks like a stick to camouflage itself from predators that may be out hunting them. Here are some interesting insects and where they got their names.
Let us start with a Ladybug: As its name may suggest, not all ladybugs are female. The most common legend about how ladybugs got their name is when Europe had a huge invasion of aphids that were destroying all the crops. The farmers would pray to the Virgin Mary for help and they think that help came in the form of a small bug that ate all the aphids and help saved the crops. The name ladybug was given because they believed that they were sent from the Virgin Mary.
How about the Earwig: The earwig does not get its name because it burrows into a humans ear and into their brain to lay eggs! In fact the earwig gets its name from a translation: ear-Wicga which actually translates to ear wing. The name is given because the wing that it is referring to is actually the pincers that are on the back of the insect.
Now for a Cicada: The cicada is a nuisance to most when they swarm around. The males let out a loud buzzing sound that can be louder then you may want, especially when there are a lot around. The good thing is that the females remain silent, and the sound helps the females find their way to the males for mating. The name Cicada can be translated in the Greek word buzzer. This would explain the name and the meaning behind it.
Lastly, the Mosquito: These pests usually cause some panic for people because they are known to spread the West Nile Virus. They are usually only found around pools of water. The Spanish translation for a Mosquito is little fly. The Spanish and Portuguese also call them zancudos which translated means long legs. That would help with understanding the name when you think of it that way. A long legged small fly.