what is it

[lupus]

anyone know what type of beetle this is,i don't have a book on insects.

 

[fred gordon]

I'm pretty sure its a Common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha).

 

[JonnyP]

I'm pretty sure its a Common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha).

Sure is...We caught one in the moth trap last night.....

 

[lupus]

thanks for that ID. it came in my room last night made me jump a bit thay are big beastys.

 

[fred gordon]

Sure is...We caught one in the moth trap last night.....

Hey Jon I didn't know you were a Mother! I have run a moth trap here for years. My main bogy in the trap is sexton beetles. Boy do these things stink! We don't seem to have the cockchafer here but I was listening to a great programme about them on Radio 4 just a couple of weks ago.

 

[JonnyP]

Hey Jon I didn't know you were a Mother! I have run a moth trap here for years. My main bogy in the trap is sexton beetles. Boy do these things stink! We don't seem to have the cockchafer here but I was listening to a great programme about them on Radio 4 just a couple of weks ago.

Hi Fred....Yes, I am a mother, and a father too.... I have been into moths for about 3 or 4 years now, built my own trap, running a 125w MV bulb, you know, one of those special ones that contain moon dust, that gives it the glow that attracts the moths in......Thats what I tell people, anyway.... At the wildlife reserve where I help out, there is a moth expert and his enthusiasm for moths is amazing and he got me into it. I like to go on all the moth hunts around here as well as trapping at home. I am always amazed at all the variety of moths there are, many are just stunning. Not come across the sexton beetle before, but I love to see all the other insects that come into the traps, esp the hornets http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15043 and others like this stunning wasp http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15531