Maybug

[muzzy]

this is currently sitting on the blind next to my PC.

havent seen one of these for years, are they now rare?

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/maybug.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/maybug2.jpg

[ceg56]

Hi Muzzy:wave:

About 3 years ago I used to work in a house looking after a couples son and they use to get loads of them during the summer (ugh:fear:), but apart from there not sure if I have ever seen them. Might be more of a rural thing.

[sandfordb]

get loads of those out in the sticks where my parents live.

huge buggers too. :D

[Jules]

We get loads of those, they sound like little minaiture bombers flying along then you here a thud when then fly into the window!

[instantsquid]

One flew into Neil's kitchen at our Marine Get Together meet last week. I think they only appear at this time of year, is that right? They used to scare me silly - I had nightmares about one flying into my crash helmet whilst riding my bike :(

[Sailfin]

They're ace. They're a member of the dung beetle family (It's a cockchafer) or more specifically it looks like a rose chafer from the pic. They do tend to emerge at this time of year having spent the winter as grubs in the soil eating the roots of plants. They do tend to be found more in the rural countryside. AFAIK they're not particularly rare although have suffered through the use of pesticides like many British invertebrates.

[muzzy]

i did a bit of googling and found that they spend 3 years as a larvae!

are they related to stag beetles?
i used to see them all the time when i was a kid on the way to school, usually dead, but i havent seen a stag beetle in probably 20 years or so

[Reef bloke]

One flew into Neil's kitchen at our Marine Get Together meet last week. I think they only appear at this time of year, is that right? They used to scare me silly - I had nightmares about one flying into my crash helmet whilst riding my bike :(
Do you remember the one that fell into Nicks tank when i was up there last? The Rel sure made quick work of it,crunch,crunch,crunch!!!

[ceg56]

One flew into Neil's kitchen at our Marine Get Together meet last week. I think they only appear at this time of year, is that right? They used to scare me silly - I had nightmares about one flying into my crash helmet whilst riding my bike :(

Hi,
not sure if that is why they are called "May" bugs;)

[Sailfin]

They aren't that closely related to stag beetles (Stag beetles are Lucanidae these are Scarabaeidae). Stag beetles are getting rarer now - they rely on rotting wood for breeding and in these days of 'tidier and safer' countryside thats quite a rare real estate they're relying on. Oh and I've just had another look at the pic - it is in fact a cockchafer not a rose chafer as I initially said :o - If my boss knew I made that mistake he'd want to sack me!

[muzzy]

cock-chafer, sounds painful :D

[mikk1301]

cock-chafer, sounds painful :D
:rolleyes::laugh:

[lennon]

yup i knew someone would have to at some point .....:laugh::whistling:

[simonblue]

i used to live on the side of a mountain and one year they were hitting the patio doors like bullets they make hell of a bang,i had never seen them before or since, the wind may have blew them my way that year.they are stunning little beetles hard as nails to survive the crash into the window then get up and trundle off.