Go Wild With Annette: Why I now treasure this often elusive beetle

By Annette J Beveridge

I was young and pregnant and chased out of my home by a beetle! It sounds dramatic and it really was. But as someone who is heavily involved in nature awareness and conservation, I am rather embarrassed by that.

I was young. Only in my early 20’s and pregnant. I remember how frightened I was by what seemed like a swarm of beetles congregating in my bedroom at night.

It was the buzzing sound that alerted me. I could hear movement in the chimney. I put the light on and looked around, nothing.

I switched off the light, and got back into bed but quickly heard the sound again. It was louder. I pulled the curtains back to allow some light in and as I did so, I saw something drop down onto the bed.

This was my first encounter with the Common Cockchafer.

Now I have to say, this is a decent sized beetle but it wasn't just one. Littered across the carpet by the bed, were lots of these large brown beetles. They appeared dead.

However, when I tried to pick one up, it flew up into the air and circled around the room like a helicopter about to crash. That was enough for me. I left the house, caught the last bus and stayed with my mum for the night.

What are Cockchafers?

Cockchafers are large brown beetles. They have distinctive antennas which are the olfactory sense organs.

Males have seven club segments on the antenna but for identification ease, females have six. Although you may see a sharp point at the back, Cockchafer beetles do not sting. Females insert the tip of this pygidium into soil for egg-laying.

Cockchafers make a deep buzzing sound while flying but it is easy to identify them because they are clumsy in flight.

Lifecycle.

Eggs are laid in June-July and hatch into a grub which can spend up to five years underground. They eat roots and tubers and once they reach approximately 4 cm, they emerge as an adult in the spring.

The beetles have a short lifespan. In their adult beetle stage, they live for only six weeks. They are often called May bugs because that is the month they usually appear but they can emerge a little sooner.

Cockchafer beetles usually appear after sunset. In their clumsy flight patterns, they may fly into windows or lampposts. Males will swarm during the mating season although the females remain where they are feeding on leaves. They will continue to do this for up to three weeks.

According to Buglife, the beetles are widespread across England and Wales but I have never seen any since and I really wish I could. These are beautiful beetles and I wish I had appreciated that at the time. They are completely harmless and should be protected.

These experiences shape your life. If I could have spoken to my younger self, it would have been to let go of fear and instead, embrace nature. I have since learned to love beetles and spend time crawling around watching beetles and insects. I firmly believe that learning about nature - be it birds, bugs or mammals, makes it far more fascinating and less fearful.

Cockchafer beetles may look a little intimidating but if you see them flying, spare a thought that they are in the final six weeks of their lives.