"Beer bug" is a common term for a little, beetle-like insect that infests campgrounds and back yards all across Ontario, Canada. They are black, hard-shelled, and have small, yellow to yellowish-brown spots on their backs. They fly and, in some cases, bite! They are quite small - measuring less than 1/4" each. As soon as you touch them, the drop and "play dead".
If my old neighbour was anything to go by (bath beer type of brewer back in the day) a beer bug is a yeast starter??
A ginger beer bug is made by adding water, sugar, ginger and yeast to a jar and left to "start", the bug still should refer to the yeast. Maybe someone with more knowledge can fill us in!
The reference to the Canadian Beer Bug is more of a gnat that flies into you beer as opposed a bug that makes a starter.
My Dad spoke of the same thing. It was the illusive "lion red" yeast strain - used as a starter to make some beer. It used to be the business before decent dried yeast strains arrived in NZ.
It's cool Don - get some US-05 and make some beer out from that - It'll be better... I promise!