てんとうむしだまし

て

ん

と

う

む

し

だ

ま

し

Meanings

1

noun

handsome fungus beetle; Endomychidae

usually written using kana alone

Refers to any beetle of the family Endomychidae. In everyday contexts, the word is often used loosely for beetles that resemble ladybugs but are not true ladybugs.

このてんとうむしだましは、本ほん物もののてんとう虫むしにそっくりだ。

This handsome fungus beetle looks just like a real ladybug.

2

noun

28-spotted ladybird; Epilachna vigintioctopunctata

colloquial

Colloquial name for the 28-spotted ladybird, a specific species often found on crops. In casual use, てんとうむしだまし may refer to this pest species.

See also: ニジュウヤホシテントウ

畑はたけのナスにてんとうむしだましがついていた。
There were 28-spotted ladybirds on the eggplants in the field.