Description: The cockchafer is about 2.5cm in length and is the largest species of chafer beetle in the UK. These are called grubs. The inch-long creepy crawlies have been living underground for the last four years and living off larva. active from early spring to autumn, hibernating through winter, sometimes indoors; widespread across the UK in gardens, woodland and grassland habitats feeding on aphids Please donate today and together we can restore vital habitats and rebuild strong populations of invertebrates in the UK. After 3-4 years, they emerge from the ground and mate as beetles. They love the light and will follow the light, although they only come out at night, so if your lights are on, close your windows. Spotlight species: 7-spot ladybird. May bugs - also known as June bugs and HORRIBLE! their real name is a cockchafer, maybug is a nick name, also some northern england nicknames are billy witch and wang beetle. These red-brown beetles commonly appear in the Northern Hemisphere during warm spring evenings and are attracted to lights. Mayfly, (order Ephemeroptera), any member of a group of insects known for their extremely short life spans and emergence in large numbers in the summer months. Home > Bugs > Identify a Bug. The aquatic immature stage, called a nymph or A horrid big brown beetle that comes out in mid may in europe and the UK. June beetle, (genus Phyllophaga), also called May beetle or June bug, genus of nearly 300 species of beetles belonging to the widely distributed plant-eating subfamily Melolonthinae (family Scarabaeidae, order Coleoptera). they are attracted to light like all other flying things they are big about size of a 2 pound coin 10p coin, 3cm, brown shell with a sort of tail the shape of a stinger. The adult beetles have reddish-brown wing cases and a black head with short fan-like antennae. This large flying beetle, also known as the may-bug, it is easily recognisable with its feathery antennae, pointy abdomen and mahogany coloured wing cases, and can be spotted between the months of May … Engage with our work. Their bodies are hairy and have white cup-shaped markings down each side. BIG BUG: Cockchafers are set to swarm Britain (Image: GETTY) The beetles – known as cockchafers – are set to terrorise Brits throughout the summer months with their high-pitched screams as they leave a trail of destruction. They tend to be around trees mainly but do venture out and they FLY. Identify a Bug Children hunting for bugs (c) Paul Glendell. As they state in their name, they come out during May/June time. Throughout UK (although more common in the southern counties) and Europe. Make a donation today. Other common names for the winged stages are shadfly, sandfly, dayfly, fishfly, and drake. This cycle means that a lot of may bugs emerge from the ground every 4 years. 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