Another one bites the dust...

[MarkJ]

I am sat in my kitchen - it is dark so I have the light on. As I type away on my laptop, the window keeps being struck by what sounds like pebbles being thrown at it - perhaps one per second.

It isn't pebbles - it is the yearly flight of the cockchafer beetles!

These large (over an inch long) beetles seem to be terrible at flying and slap into the window and drop down into the darkness. From prior experience of them, I know they will, in many cases be upside down - which, for a cockchafer means death as they seem unable to right themselves.

Suppose I could go and right a few of the daft things.
They seem to have become a regular event each year since the farm which backs onto my garden became organic some years ago. Prior to that, I never saw a cockchafer, but now they are a yearly event!

[sueannbowen]

Good luck with them Mark. They are big and although I know they are harmless they give me the creeps. Buuuuuttt if it were me I would have to go outside and right a few - or are they attracted to the light in which case................

[Thomasin]

Yes, they are coming out here too. I remember last year, down one particular lane, they were falling out of the trees like anything and lying on the road surface waving their legs. If you just put your finger within reach they cling to it and you can then relocate them, which I did several times.

[sueannbowen]

If you just put your finger within reach they cling to it and you can then relocate them, which I did several times.

good on you - i would need a bit of paper or similar. Not sure I could stretch to fingers Thomasin!!

[Thomasin]

I actually like the feel of their clingy feet!

[Mutley]

I cannot abide insects of any sort but is this the 'orrible' beast you are discussing?

[MarkJ]

Been and righted a few of the things, but I was dodging "incoming" as I was doing so! There seem to be an awful lot tonight - perhaps all the heat, coupled with the rising humidity (it is supposed to rain hard tonight here and there have been a few flashes of lightning already) has brought them all out?

Mutley - yes, thats the ones! Lovely really - but really stupidly bad at flying!

[Thomasin]

Just the time of year, isn't it? After all, their other name is 'May bugs'.

Yes Mutley, that's the little beauty.

[Mutley]

Oooooh! how can they be lovely beauties. Ugh!

Mind you, they may be preferable to our flying beasties that we have at the moment.
Carpenter bees, darn things are about 3-4 cms and sound like a motor bike approaching at 100 miles an hour.
I run like the blazes and when they hit my window, as many of they are at the moment, sadly I have to leave them to it......

[MarkJ]

Awesome bee Mutley! Would love to see one here. Do they have the ability to sting like the native bees here?