harlequin ladybird

noun

British

: multicolored asian lady beetle

Experts have cited two causes: a warm summer which brought a plentiful supply of aphids, their main food source, and the spread of a foreign variety, the harlequin ladybird, originally from Asia, which is larger, spottier and more orange than native ladybirds …

—Rebecca Lefort, Sunday Telegraph (London), 1 Nov. 2009

Word History

First Known Use

2004, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!