VERY large and disturbing... thing

[Dango]

I could only describe it as a flying cockroach with flower eyes.

I googled it only to find flying cockroaches actually existed... very worrying...

Anyway, someone told me it was a mayfly but they're way too thin. It makes this horrible buzzing noise when it flied. I think I killed it accidently so it's probably still outside on the floor.

It had too little dots that looked like eyes and two things sticking out on the front that looked like flowers.

Any idea what it is?

Here's a crude (very crude) drawing in paint:

yes, those things sticking out of the front are the flowery things, and the black dots are the eyes... The sticks on the sides are what the legs looked like except they were reddish-brown

It was sort of browny... The flower things were reddish-brown as well...

Let's just say it was one discusting thing which I hope to never see again.

[jamesthornton]

Cockchafer?

They're brilliant not disgusting!

[Gill Catton]

Yes cockchafer or may-bug and yes big and loud but totally harmless a gentle giant really.



I used to be scared of them as a child but they have quite an interesting life cycle, an adult for a very short time really.

[Richard Baber]

Hi Dango

Sounds much like a cockchafer to me too, it's certainly the right time of year. Many people don't like them - they're big, noisy, fly into things and have a reputation for getting stuck in people's hair, which probably doesn't happen that often.

I wish we had more of them round here!

Richard

[Paul mabbott]

Yes, harmless. A lot of beetles sound and look aggressive when in flight but it's because they're not very good at it: get airborne and flap like mad with very little control over direction!
Well done with the drawing - no Rembrandt but got all the salient features in! I wish more people would risk a little diagram when they want identification and don't have a camera.
The 'flowery things' are atennae.

[Ladywell]

Agree - cockchafer - beautiful beetles - otherwise know as maybugs (is that the month or the hawthorn they are named after?) I am used to getting calls from my neighbours to go and rescue them from a giant scary beetle Think the season for this might be about to start

[Burko]

Awesome creatures, always a pleasure to see.

[Dango]

Thanks, that was definately it.

Turns out I didn't kill it. I went out in the mourning and it was gone. Interesting how it didn't move when I grabbed it with the cup (any thoughts on that?).

[Jason Green]

Morning Dango, and welcome to WAB!

Originally Posted by Dango

Thanks, that was definately it.

Turns out I didn't kill it. I went out in the mourning and it was gone. Interesting how it didn't move when I grabbed it with the cup (any thoughts on that?).

It was probably 'Playing dead', a common tactic employed in feigning death to prevent attack/predation, which is how it perceived your handling of it.

Take care,

Jason

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Morning Dango, and welcome to WAB!

It was probably 'Playing dead', a common tactic employed in feigning death to prevent attack/predation, which is how it perceived your handling of it.

The one I photographed last year and posted for ID was DEFINITELY dead!

There were a few in the road that had been squished by cars. The one I picked up just wasn't as squished as the others!