Cockchafer

by Ian Bushell

This is a Common Cockchafer – Melolontha melolontha – photographed in the reserve last week. It is also called Maybug, Maybeetle or Doodlebug.

It is part of the scarab beetle family.  Both the adult (25–30mm in length) and larvae feed on plants, the larvae being particularly destructive, gnawing the plant roots and are considered as pests by gardeners and farmers.  Previous use of pesticides reduced their numbers but recent regulation of pesticides means their numbers are recovering. 

Adults are greatest in number in May and June and, looking at the colouration, this one has newly emerged. Eggs are buried quite deeply and when they hatch the larvae spend from 3 to 5 years burrowing and eating,  growing to about 4 to 5 cm. The adult stage lives for only 1 to 2 months. 

Because they take so long to get to the pupal stage, the adults appear in cycles of about 3 to 4 years – similar to the Cicada ‘explosions’ every 11 years in the USA.  So this year looks like being a good one for the Cockchafer and there should be plenty of sightings in the reserve.