I wrote about these slow flying, heavy beetles a few days ago.
This evening, I was putting clean sheets on the bed when the deep buzzing of a May Bug caught my attention. I quickly cupped it into a jar, as shown, before taking it out to the back garden for release by the goat’s willow.
The photograph is the view from the tail. It shows the egg laying protuberance of a female.
On the head the two feathered antennae, like grotesque false eye-lashes, are visible.
With wings folded the Cockchafer is the size of a man’s thumb; with wings buzzing, it looks like a blurred flying ball. I will sleep more easily without this specimen crawling around my bed.
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n.b. Also known as Doodle Bugs, or Rookworms.
Christopher Perry
17th May, 2020
Journey of Words 