Swift perhaps to pursue boy with unknown bug (8)
I believe the answer is:
ladybird
'bug' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'swift perhaps to pursue boy with unknown' is the wordplay.
'swift perhaps' becomes 'bird' (swift is a kind of bird).
'to pursue' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'boy' becomes 'lad' (informal term for boy).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'unknown' becomes 'y' (algebra).
'lad'+'y'='lady'
'bird' after 'lady' is 'LADYBIRD'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ladybird that I've seen before include "that's spotted in gardens" , "Kind of beetle" , "Spotted creature" , "old children's book" , "This insect likes greenfly" .)