Big fat flying beetle/cockroach type thing

[claireh]

Hi all

i've been reading threads and looking through the Gallery all morning and can't find anything like what we saw last night.

There were lots of them on Dunstable downs at dusk, and they were attacking us, really dive bombing and wouldnt leave us alone. They were large, fat lightish brown with scary legs and were very loud. They had fat bodies not slim like a wasp.

Looked a bit like a flying cockroach or something about an inch long. slightly reddish underneath

I've been to dunstable downs a lot recently and this is the first time i've had this experience so i can only think they come out at dusk only. the clkosest thing i could find to it is a may bug but they seemed larger and the wrong time of year.

I have seen something very similar in turkey but they didnt attack us, and there weren't that many.

I have emailed the visitors centre but have had no reply yet. I thought the experts on here might be able to help. I couldnt get a picture as they were flying at us and i was running away and screaming like a girl!

Claire

[Jason Claxton]

Hi Claire and welcome to WAB!

Maybe it was one of the Chafer beetles,a Cockchafer perhaps,try Summer Chafer also.

Cheers Jason.

[claireh]

Thanks Jason

They might be a summer chafer - they seemed a bit bigger though, but everything else fits, especially the flying at dusk thing, i wonder why they were so keen on flying at us?

[Jason Claxton]

Originally Posted by claireh

Thanks Jason

They might be a summer chafer - they seemed a bit bigger though, but everything else fits, especially the flying at dusk thing, i wonder why they were so keen on flying at us?

Hi Claire

Did you have a light on perhaps?,they are attracted to light,if not I don't know.

[Paul mabbott]

I doubt they were attacking you - it's just that you weren't getting out of the way. Many beetles are quite good fliers, working up to a good speed &c but they don't have very good directional control. This is especially true of the scarabaeids, they are very clumsy, generally flying straight from point A to point B unless they meet something else in the way! I got in the way of a dung beetle once and it actually left a bruise on my forehead!

[claireh]

No i'm sure they were on the attack, they kept coming back flying in circles and divebombing! very odd....no lights on either it was still quite light the sun was just going down.

Once we were back on the chalky ground where there was no grass they stopped.

[Jason Claxton]

Yes I remember seeing a Cockchafer in my garden earlier this year,that had bounced off a security light into a bucket,it was the din I heard first of it trying to rattle its way out,it didn't seem dazed,it just couldn't work out how to fly out of the bucket!Hardly any spatial awareness at all,with a fly as hard through the obstacle as possible approach,and if that fails,fly at it harder...Doink!

[triops]

Chafers don't attack! They use a tree or bush as a landmark and meeting place, and you are a similar feature. They will move with you because they think you are a stationary object. Catch one and admire it!

[claireh]

Thanks for all the replies folks.

I would love to catch one and adnmire it, and i tried to be grown up and not scared of them but i failed. Sorry, i love most animals but just cannot deal with insects, especially ones that look like giant space beasts. I know how irrational it is.

[roger_bodger33]

Hello I was also searching online to find this weird beetle - wasp like creature.
I would like to confirm that they do attack people, and anyone who says "I doubt they are attacking" is mistaken.
Four times I was attacked by these things at Wanstead flats next to Capel road 17th July 2010.
I swatted one of them and caught it ( alive )

If you doubt that they attack, then head for the Golden Fleece pub in capel road Forest gate, London then walk out into the field in a left 45 degree direction for about 400 yards in the evening and you will see them.

I have it still alive in a see through bag and i will show a photo so anyone who emails me.

It is 17mm in length, stubby in shape and about the same size as a bumble bee, has a wasp like underside but the yellow is much less bright than a wasp or bee. The tail ends in a point just like a bee, which indicates it might have a stinger.
The top part looks like a beetle which is a fawn colour, with a darker brown-black line running from head to tail.

I have also never seen anything like this before and got a fright. Other people were getting attacked and run away, aswell as my dog who got spooked.


Email me on roger_bodger33@yahoo.com for a photo, and help me find out if they are dangerous or not. If its not a stinging insect then I will go and let it go. I have a feeling they are from another country.