Scary Unidentified Bug

[mark4785]

During the UK heat wave experienced in May a large flying bug flew into our kitchen and landed on the floor upside down. We were shocked to find this 5cm long creature as opposed to a moth or smaller fly. I have never come across such a thing before and I was wondering if anybody could identify what it is by it's exact name. As I am 20 years of age and have never seen one of these before I presume they are quite rare to come by.

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Picture 5:

 

[the biffster]

http/www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http/homepage.ntlworld.com/ray.hamblett1/nature/natimages/insects/beetle/beetle2633.jpg&imgrefurl=http/homepage.ntlworld.com/ray.hamblett1/nature/beetle.html&h=282&w=360&sz=21&tbnid=stmmX4fnSxvZeM:&tbnh=95&tbnw=121&prev=/images%3Fq%3Denglish%2Bbeetles&usg=__SJ7ENJV3q9s0ESOH5jHi7Dhc3uQ=&ei=fzcFTOiXH4fA4gbz6vTLDg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=3&ct=image&ved=0CBwQ9QEwAg

chafer beetle may be

 

[jacko32]

its very similar to a ten lined june beetle but not quite right
yes im sure its a june beetle not a ten lined 1 though just a normal 1

http/www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http/www.whatsthatbug.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/lined_june_beetle_david.jpg&imgrefurl=http/www.whatsthatbug.com/2009/07/14/lined-june-beetle-2/&usg=__7A7WogOuglNA4oQMxRJTMSJ-mr0=&h=550&w=460&sz=128&hl=en&start=44&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=7qik7V_Rz7zbKM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djune%2Bbeetle%26start%3D40%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1

 

[the biffster]

its very similar to a ten lined june beetle but not quite right
yes im sure its a june beetle not a ten lined 1 though just a normal 1

http/www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http/www.whatsthatbug.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/lined_june_beetle_david.jpg&imgrefurl=http/www.whatsthatbug.com/2009/07/14/lined-june-beetle-2/&usg=__7A7WogOuglNA4oQMxRJTMSJ-mr0=&h=550&w=460&sz=128&hl=en&start=44&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=7qik7V_Rz7zbKM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djune%2Bbeetle%26start%3D40%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1

i think your right on that one

 

[mark4785]

Thank you for the responses.

The google image you sourced (of the Chafer beetle) does look similar to the bug but I've noticed there is an absence of the leaf-like feature sticking out of it's head.

It does more resemble a june beetle

 

[Mikaila31]

June bugs are one of the few insects I really dislike. We have lots of them around here. They don't creep me out or anything, they are just annoying. They are always running into my windows repeatedly at night. Their large size does make them pretty amazing when they come in contact with the bug zapper. They can't fry directly into it, but actually have to crawl through the protective wires. They don't just get zapped they often start on fire...lol.

 

[mark4785]

June bugs are one of the few insects I really dislike. We have lots of them around here. They don't creep me out or anything, they are just annoying. They are always running into my windows repeatedly at night. Their large size does make them pretty amazing when they come in contact with the bug zapper. They can't fry directly into it, but actually have to crawl through the protective wires. They don't just get zapped they often start on fire...lol.

I wouldn't go as far as setting them on fire with anything lol, but I guess I was wondering what it was capable of, i.e. is it poisonous or a threat to outdoor fish? If it was a threat to any of the animals I keep I would go about getting a harmless deterant.

When I first saw it I thought it was a mouse and the adrenaline was circulating when I was trying to get it to go back outside. When I eventually moved it to the patio floor I took the pictures I have displayed above. It looks really fascinating; never seen anything like it before

 

[england]

The good old may bug, funny things...make sure they dont land in your hair, they are sooo sticky,some people have to cut the hair to get rid...
http/www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th11e(12).htm

There are hundreds of these around my area,my sister hates em,so obviously its sooo funny to watch her run for the hills when they appear, they are clumsy fliers crashing into everything, when i was young,kids used to have baseball bats,when these came in range, faaaawack... evil kids round my way

 

[jacko32]

The good old may bug, funny things...make sure they dont land in your hair, they are sooo sticky,some people have to cut the hair to get rid...
http/www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th11e(12).htm

There are hundreds of these around my area,my sister hates em,so obviously its sooo funny to watch her run for the hills when they appear, they are clumsy fliers crashing into everything, when i was young,kids used to have baseball bats,when these came in range, faaaawack... evil kids round my way

lol i like its other name you wouldnt want it down your trousers

The good old may bug, funny things...make sure they dont land in your hair, they are sooo sticky,some people have to cut the hair to get rid...
http/www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th11e(12).htm

There are hundreds of these around my area,my sister hates em,so obviously its sooo funny to watch her run for the hills when they appear, they are clumsy fliers crashing into everything, when i was young,kids used to have baseball bats,when these came in range, faaaawack... evil kids round my way

lol i like its other name you wouldnt want it down your trousers

 

[england]

The good old may bug, funny things...make sure they dont land in your hair, they are sooo sticky,some people have to cut the hair to get rid...
http/www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th11e(12).htm

There are hundreds of these around my area,my sister hates em,so obviously its sooo funny to watch her run for the hills when they appear, they are clumsy fliers crashing into everything, when i was young,kids used to have baseball bats,when these came in range, faaaawack... evil kids round my way

lol i like its other name you wouldnt want it down your trousers

 

[Bridie]

The things sticking out it´s head are antennae, it needs them to smell. You can actually tell that it is a male because his antennae have 7 leaves, while females only have 6, and there are smaller.
Watch out for more, there usually don´t come alone and can eat a tree bare within hours!

 

[mark4785]

What do they primarily eat? I was thinking about feeding it but didn't know what it likes to munch on lol.

 

[chigwellhammer]

Why would you want to feed it ??? lol

 

[mark4785]

Why would you want to feed it ??? lol

Well, why not?

 

[the biffster]

so they are a type of chafer beetle then
i know i have seen the over here in the UK
before there not on the small size for a
beetle like can you imagine been hit in
the face by one while been on the motor
bike that would hurt once got a wasp in my helmet
and the visor dropped down