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Ready for flight A cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) with its elytra raised and its flying wings poised for takeoff.

cockchafer

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Also known as: May beetle, May bug, Maybug, Melolontha melolontha, common cockchafer(Show More)
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History

cockchafer, (Melolontha melolontha), a large European beetle that is destructive to foliage, flowers, and fruit as an adult and to plant roots as a larva. In the British Isles, the name “cockchafer” refers more broadly to any of the beetles in the subfamily Melolonthinae (family Scarabaeidae), which are known in North America as June beetles, June bugs, or May beetles. See also chafer; June beetle.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.