{"id":18237,"date":"2026-05-18T22:09:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T22:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/easyrecipes.milaf.ma\/?p=18237"},"modified":"2026-05-18T22:09:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T22:09:34","slug":"what-kind-of-beetle-is-this-and-what-should-you-do-if-you-see-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/food-recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/2026\/05\/18\/what-kind-of-beetle-is-this-and-what-should-you-do-if-you-see-one\/","title":{"rendered":"What kind of beetle is this? (And what should you do if you see one?)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thank you so much for sharing this vivid (and totally relatable) nighttime encounter in the bathroom! That bang against the lamp is unmistakable \u2013 and yes, it really does make you jump.<\/span><\/p>\n

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You\u2019ve already done half the work by figuring out it\u2019s not a cockchafer. Let me confirm your identification, explain why it was in your bathroom, and\u2014most importantly\u2014tell you what to do (and what not to do) if you find another one.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\u2705\" First the good news: The May beetle is harmless to you.<\/span><\/h2>\n

First, take a deep breath. The cockchafer (\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Melolontha melolontha<\/span><\/em>\u00a0), sometimes also called \u201cMay beetle\u201d or \u201cDoodlebug\u201d, is neither dangerous\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0to humans nor to pets\u00a0 .<\/span><\/p>\n

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    It doesn\u2019t bite or sting.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0The pincers on its head? They\u2019re for eating plant leaves, not for pinching people.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    It is non-toxic.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0No poison, no irritation.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    It doesn\u2019t infest houses.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s an insect that lives outdoors and accidentally flew into the house because it was attracted by the light in the bathroom.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    So why did it choose your bathroom in particular? You\u2019ve probably already guessed:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>light\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\ud83e\udeb2\" Why was it in your bathroom?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    May beetles are nocturnal and strongly attracted to light sources \u2013 especially white or bright light. The light in your bathroom, reflected off the shiny tiles and porcelain, acted like a beacon.<\/span><\/p>\n

    They also appear in late spring (April\u2013May) for their short flight period as adults, which lasts only 4\u20136 weeks. During this time, the males fly noisily at dusk and into the night in search of females. This is when they are most likely to accidentally fly into a lit room through an open window or even down a chimney.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Her bathroom offered all the ideal conditions:<\/span><\/p>\n

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      A bright light is on at night\u00a0\"\u2705\"<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      An open window or a gap around a ventilation opening\u00a0\"\u2705\"<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Warm, humid air (which they find inviting)\u00a0\"\u2705\"<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      He wasn\u2019t looking for a new home. He was simply lost.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"\ud83d\udd0d\"\u00a0May beetle vs. May beetle: How to identify it<\/span><\/h2>\n
      \n
      <\/div>\n

       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Special feature<\/span><\/th>\nMay beetle<\/span><\/th>\nJune beetles<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      Size<\/span><\/td>\nLarger (1\u20131.5 inches \/ 25\u201335 mm)<\/span><\/td>\nSmaller (\u00bd\u20131 inch \/ 12\u201325 mm)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Color<\/span><\/td>\nDark reddish-brown with a black head<\/span><\/td>\nShiny, metallic greenish-brown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Movement<\/span><\/td>\nClumsy, loud, bumps into things<\/span><\/td>\nHumming, unpredictable, but somewhat more agile<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Active season<\/span><\/td>\nLate April to May (only 4-6 weeks)<\/span><\/td>\nLate May to June<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Body shape<\/span><\/td>\nSturdy, rather oval<\/span><\/td>\nSlightly slimmer<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

      The cockchafer is also much louder in flight \u2013 hence the disturbing \u201cslapping\u201d sound you heard. They are anything but graceful fliers.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"\ud83d\udee0\ufe0f\"\u00a0What to do if you find one (What you did exactly right)<\/span><\/h2>\n

      You did that perfectly. Here are the simple step-by-step instructions:<\/span><\/p>\n

      1. Don\u2019t panic!\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0They can\u2019t hurt you. Even if one lands on you, it will just crawl or try to fly away.<\/span><\/p>\n

      2. Turn off the bathroom light and close the door.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0The darkness will calm it down, and it will stop banging on surfaces.<\/span><\/p>\n

      3. Open a window (if possible) and turn on an outside light.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0The animal will fly towards the light and then fly away on its own. This is the gentlest method.<\/span><\/p>\n

      4. Alternatively, you can carefully catch it.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Use a cup and a piece of sturdy paper or cardboard. Slide the paper under the cup, carry it outside, and release the animal on a tree or bush (not directly on the ground \u2013 it needs to be able to climb).<\/span><\/p>\n

      What you should NOT do:<\/span><\/p>\n

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        Do not crush (that\u2019s messy and unnecessary).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Please do not throw it down the toilet (it is alive and can survive in the pipes for a while \u2013 cruel and ineffective).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Do not spray it with insecticides in the bathroom (this is excessive and introduces chemicals into your living space).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \"\ud83c\udfe0\"\u00a0Will more may beetles be coming into the house?<\/span><\/h2>\n

        Probably not. The flight period of the adult moths is very short (4\u20136 weeks). You might find one or two more stragglers if you leave the bathroom light on at night with the windows open. However, they\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>do not breed or nest\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0in your house. For their larval stage, they need soil and plant roots, which your bathroom does not provide.<\/span><\/p>\n

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        <\/div>\n

         <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        If you want to avoid future confusion among your visitors:<\/span><\/p>\n

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          Keep bathroom windows closed or fitted with fly screens on May evenings.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          For lights near open windows, use a lower wattage bulb or a yellow insect lamp.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          During May beetle season, switch off unnecessary lights at night.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          \"\ud83c\udf0d\" Final note: May beetles are actually beneficial for the garden.<\/span><\/h2>\n

          Adult cockchafers eat leaves (which can annoy gardeners). As larvae, however, they loosen the soil and decompose organic material. More importantly, they are a vital food source for bats, birds, and hedgehogs.<\/span><\/p>\n

          Their population collapsed in the 20th century due to pesticides. But they are slowly recovering, and many ecologists see this as a positive sign for biodiversity. So their nocturnal visitor wasn\u2019t just a clumsy insect \u2013 it was a small indication that local ecosystems are recovering.<\/span><\/p>\n

          \"\ud83d\udddd\ufe0f\"\u00a0Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n
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          <\/div>\n
          <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          Ask<\/span><\/th>\nAnswer<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
          Is it dangerous?<\/span><\/td>\nNo\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 safe for humans and animals.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Will it bite?<\/span><\/td>\nNo\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 it has no interest in you.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Is my house infested with pests?<\/span><\/td>\nNo\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 it was a single, lost adult.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Should I call a pest control service?<\/span><\/td>\nNo\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 it is an insect that lives outdoors, not a pest.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          What do I do?<\/span><\/td>\nTurn off the light, open a window, or carefully slide the object outside in your hand.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

          You survived an encounter with a cockchafer. That\u2019s not bad luck. It\u2019s also not a sign of an unclean home. It\u2019s simply one of nature\u2019s clumsiest, loudest, and most harmless spring visitors that got lost and headed straight for your toothbrush.<\/span><\/p>\n

          And quite honestly? That\u2019s a much better story than \u201cI found a cockroach\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

          If you see another one tonight, smile, turn off the light, and let it find its way back outside. You can do it!\u00a0\"\ud83e\udeb2\"<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Thank you so much for sharing this vivid (and totally relatable) nighttime encounter in the bathroom! That bang against the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18238,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/food-recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18237","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/food-recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/food-recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/food-recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/food-recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18237"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/food-recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18237\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18240,"href":"https:\/\/food-recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18237\/revisions\/18240"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/food-recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/food-recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/food-recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/food-recipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}