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small brown beetle

• Message 1. 

  Posted by barbara potts (U14527115) on Sunday, 20th June 2010

  Hi, For the last few days we have been plagued by small flying beetles. I have small allotment and someone suggested the beetles may be a threat to the produce. Could do without any more threats. Does anyone know what these creatures are. They are roughly twice the size of the ladybird.
  Barb

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by bookertoo (U3655866) on Sunday, 20th June 2010

  There are a couple of really good web sites with pictures on which may help you identify your beetles. I stongly suspect chafer beetles, we have them here in the garden as well, cannot get excited about them but I am sure others will tell you differently because they know more. As I don't use chemicals or sprays, identifying them isn't an issue for me, knowing the name of what I'm not going to kill doesn't seem to help - with the exception of lily beetles of course, upon which I stamp with exceeding great joy!!!
  
  The other option is to see if you can take a picture of your beetles and post it here, there are lots of knowledgeable people who will almost certainly be able to name and shame it for you, and tell you if it threatens any of your crops.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by hereisabee (U2342191) on Sunday, 20th June 2010

  This is the cockchafer or maybug, will lay it's eggs around the roots of grass plants. Not a terrible threat, but tasty meal for a starling.
  
  

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by barbara potts (U14527115) on Sunday, 20th June 2010

  Thanks for the advice. Yes, they are cockchafers and no threat to my beans, peas etc.
  Barb

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Monday, 21st June 2010

  I'm a bit confused here - the cockchafer or maybug is about 6-8 times the size of a native ladybird and it's heavy, doodlebug-type flight is unmistakeable, as is the loud buzzing sound it makes.
  
  Perhaps this pest (of the same chafer family, approx. twice the size of a ladybird) might be your culprit :
  
  
  

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• Message 6

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  Posted by Gardenbug (U14488159) on Monday, 21st June 2010

  Hi barbara potts
  
  don't know if we're talking about the same type of beetles but both our lawns front & back have also been plagued by swarms of beetles the last few days. They are quite small with a round shell, haven't seen any flying though and they are concentrated purely on the lawns & when you look closely, there are tons of them and almost appear to be breeding more as you watch! Not just us though as the neighbours lawns are also covered. Not sure if it is a geographical thing (we are in the west midlands)
  I put it down to the warm & humid conditions we currently have maybe?
  They don't appear to be doing any harm to my lawns (at least I hope not!) but not nice 2 see & makes u feel all itchy thinkin about em! Also I kept my little niece & nephew off the lawn yesterday because of them.
  As mentioned they are proving to be a huge tasty feast for the birds! Especially pigeons, magpies and blackbirds.
  I'm no expert but I'm hoping their presence won't last much longer and it is just a specific time of the year for them so any other thoughts would be welcome.

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• Message 7

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  Posted by hereisabee (U2342191) on Monday, 21st June 2010

  Thanks bluedoyenne, however there are a number of cockchafer species, the Summer Chafer once named 'Rhizotrogus solstitialis' is half the size and flies in June, perhaps with the solstice?
  

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Thursday, 24th June 2010

  Reply to posting 6
  
  Hi Gardenbug - as someone who has experienced the important lawn damage following an invasion exactly as you describe, I am posting this link for you:
  
  
  
  Good luck - with time and effort you can control the damage but they return every year!

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Thursday, 24th June 2010

  Hi hereisabee - I know, that's why I posted about a member of the same molontha family which causes substantial lawn damage. The one thing they have in common appears to be their plant root-eating larvae.

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 9.

  Posted by hereisabee (U2342191) on Thursday, 24th June 2010

  Another point worth considering is that most beetle grubs have the cockchafer look. This months The Garden (RHS magazine) is profiling stag beetles, reading about them I realised my mistake. Some years ago there was a cockchafer problem with a college lawn (lawn dept.) when I emptied the bulk compost bin in my domain (borders) there were grubs in the compost, which I dispatched cutting them in half with my secateurs. However as the article points out, cockchafers eat living roots and the stag beetles rotting wood. So I may have been killing a garden friend rather than foe. Never mind for everyone I cut two will have escaped, foolish males charging one another with their antlers - when will we learn.

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• Message 11

  , in reply to message 10.

  Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Friday, 25th June 2010

  I've never seen a stag beetle - they are so very prehistoric in aspect, I would love to see one.
  
  But look what I found in my garden nearly two weeks ago:
  

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• Message 12

  , in reply to message 11.

  Posted by hereisabee (U2342191) on Friday, 25th June 2010

  Yes very exotic, do you what it is?

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• Message 13

  , in reply to message 11.

  Posted by bookertoo (U3655866) on Saturday, 26th June 2010

  Many years ago - never mind how many! - there were stag beetles where I then lived. Absolutely amazing creatures, like something out of the Lost World films of long ago. However, not quite something you need to find in your soap dish in the early hours of the morning..........

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• Message 14

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  Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Monday, 28th June 2010

  No, not exotic to my knowledge. A very kind friend in the UK found it in Collins Dictionary of Insects and it's a bee beetle. I had never seen one before now.

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