Large nocturnal orange beetle identification

[plecky]

I know very little about insects, but i had a beetle fly into the light in the conservatory last night. As the light is caged the only way I could stop it getting cooked was to turn out the lights, so I'm afraid I have no picture.

It was large over an inch, orange with a large sting type appendage at the back. very loud as it hit the light (I thought it was a large moth) no black markings even the antennea were orange.

I've never seen anything like it. It was the largest beetle I have ever seen!

Anyone any ideas?

Mick

[nutmeg]

Might have been a cockchafer? They're around at the moment and fly to light (very clumsily!).

[tristanba]

are you sure it was a beetle and not an Ichnuemon wasp? The large orange Ophion species are nocturnal and come to light, often in large numbers. Your observation of a stinger would support this, but the loud noise as it hit the light does suggest a large beetle, cockchafer being most likely as nutmeg says

[plecky]

Thanks Nutmeg,

you were spot-on. I googled ther cockchafer, yes that was definitely it. Considering how common it is I am amazed I've never seen one before.

Thanks for everyones help.

Mick