Students Suggest State Bug | Video

Kevin Boughton | 1/14/2011

For second graders in Kenmare, learning about bugs and politics goes hand-in-hand. Tamara McNeiley’s class began learning about the insects last year and now that lesson will take them Bismarck next week. Students will get a first hand lesson in politics when they try to lobby legislators to make the lady bug the official state bug of North Dakota.

McNeiley explains, “There are 5 states that have the lady bug for an insect and North Dakota didn`t have one and it was just like everyone simultaneously screamed ‘we gotta do this!’”

Her students, who will don lady bug costumes while they sing and make presentations to lawmakers, say it was fun to start learning about something as small as a lady bug and now learn about big things like government.

“I mean, we got lady bugs, we get to go to the capitol, but I think the best part when we go to the capitol we get to see how laws are going to be made,” says second grader Jaden.

The effort is gaining momentum. An insect expert from the Smithsonian has called Mrs. McNeiley to offer advice on the bug as well as convincing legislators of its value to an agricultural state like North Dakota. Lady Bugs are natural predators of crop-destroying aphids.

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