Ladybug 瓢蟲

Have you ever looked down at your clothes or skin and seen an insect like this? Most people think of these little bugs as signs of good luck. Their bright red color, black spots and shiny shells make them many people's favorite bug. In fact, in many parts of the world, people think it is bad luck to kill them.

In the US, this bug is called a ladybug. In the UK and some other English-speaking countries, it's called a ladybird. Scientists have their own name for it: lady beetle. Ladybugs actually are beetles, although many people think of beetles as black and little bit ugly.

The next time a ladybug lands on you, make a wish. Then carefully blow the ladybug away. Do you think your wish will come true?

(Kayleen Hartman, Staff writer)

你可曾低頭看見衣服或皮膚上有過這樣的昆蟲？多數人認為這種小蟲象徵著好運氣，紅底黑點的閃亮外殼，讓牠成為許多人最喜愛的昆蟲。事實上，世上許多國家的人都認為撲殺瓢蟲會帶來厄運。

在美國，這種蟲叫做「ladybug」。在英國和部分其他英語系國家又叫「ladybird」，科學家也自己給牠取名字︰「lady beetle」。瓢蟲其實是甲蟲的一種，只不過許多人認為甲蟲又黑又醜。

下次有瓢蟲飛到你身上，許個願，然後小心吹走牠。你認為你的願望會實現嗎？ （翻譯：鄭湘儀）