Insect · GBIF taxon 4990995
Common Cockchafer
Melolontha melolonthaAlso known as May Bug
Common Cockchafers are heavy chestnut beetles whose males carry conspicuous fan-shaped antennae. Adults fly noisily around trees at dusk, while curved white larvae spend years underground feeding on roots.
Scarabaeid BeetleFan AntennaeTwilight Flier
Licensed referenceFrank Vassen from Brussels, Belgium / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
—observations
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—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Tree leaves
- Grass roots
- Herb roots
Predators
- Bats
- Owls
- Moles
ThreatsBroad-spectrum pesticides, intensive agriculture, soil disturbance, and loss of mixed habitat
HabitatsMeadows, farmland, woodland edges, gardens, parks, and deciduous forest
Life spanUsually three to four years as a larva followed by several weeks as an adult
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyScarabaeidae
- SpeciesMelolontha melolontha
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Observe resting beetles without spraying, collecting, or removing them from vegetation.
Responsible observation
- Antennae: Check males for broad fans made of several movable plates.
- Timing: Watch tree margins at twilight for slow, buzzing flight.
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