Selfsufficientish.com

Found this fella sat in the porch last night whilst out working.

It's the first time I've ever seen one. At first I thought it was a juv Stag Beetle, but something didn't seem to fit - so, to the internet I went...

Turns out it's a lesser stag beetle. Pretty harmless (allegedly), not particularly cute, but very impressive!

Just thought I'd share!

I think it is very cute! I've only seen the big stag beetle, never one of these.

I've seen plenty of stags , but I don't think I've ever seen either of these beetles live... Are they quite rare, or is it just me not looking properly?

If we're playing beetle identification, does anyone recognise this one:



It was about an inch long and peacefully sleeping in a rhododendron flower at RHS Wisley when I visited a couple of weeks ago.

Wulf

I think I've got a lesser stag beetle in my bathroom this morning! However it is only about 1" long so maybe it isn't - as it looks like 2" long in the photo.

I'm not good on beetles Wulf but this site is good for ID.

http://www.gardensafari.net/english/beetles.htm

Or is that ruler in centimeters? If so, that's my beetle!! Amazing coincidence isn't it!

Good link, MMM! Based on the information there, I think it was almost certainly a Common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) - also known as "May bug" or "May beetle".

Wulf

wulf wrote:If we're playing beetle identification, does anyone recognise this one:

It looks like a May Bug - a friend describes them as "Bumble Bee's in Kevlar" (this was after he cycled into one and it nearly knocked him off his bike!). They make a tremendous sound when they fly around the place - it's like having a helicopter landing in the back garden!

Or is that ruler in centimeters? If so, that's my beetle!! Amazing coincidence isn't it!

It's in centimetres - and it is an amazing coincidence! I showed the photo to a couple of friends who have also seen similar beetles over the passed 2 days - the first time that they've ever seen them as well... which begs the question - is it really a coincidence... or is it something more sinister!!!!

wulf wrote:Good link, MMM! Based on the information there, I think it was almost certainly a Common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) - also known as "May bug" or "May beetle".

Wulf

Aarrgh that's the beetle whose larvae look like this and eat the roots of your plants (for the benefit of new members who haven't already seen this piccy):

Batfink wrote:

Or is that ruler in centimeters? If so, that's my beetle!! Amazing coincidence isn't it!

It's in centimetres - and it is an amazing coincidence! I showed the photo to a couple of friends who have also seen similar beetles over the passed 2 days - the first time that they've ever seen them as well... which begs the question - is it really a coincidence... or is it something more sinister!!!!

The beginning of an invasion? I put mine on a rotting log pile as I imagine that is their natural environment like their bigger brothers.

Yup, it's a cockchafer all right. Those buggers live in the soil for several years. Every few years there's a boom in the numbers above ground, but don't know why... Unlike the stag beetles they eat living plant material, and that means roots (particularly grass but they're not fussy). Treat as a pest. Here chick-chick-chick-chick-chickens!

Oooh yes they love 'em! However they don't seem very impressed by Colorado Beetle which I've just found on my spuds . Now I have to crush them between two stones. Yuk!