Melolontha melolontha (Linnaeus, 1758)
(Common Cockchafer, May Bug)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesMelolontha melolontha (Common Cockchafer, May Bug)
GenusMelolontha (cockchafers)
SubfamilyMELOLONTHINAE (cockchafers)
FamilySCARABAEIDAE (scarab, dung and carrion beetles)
SuperfamilySCARABAEOIDEA (scarabs, dung and stag beetles)
Series Scarabaeiformia (scarabs, dung and stag beetles)
SuborderPOLYPHAGA (mainly terrestrial beetles)
OrderCOLEOPTERA (beetles)
Division Endopterygota (bees, beetles, flies, moths and other insects with wings developing internally)
InfraclassNeoptera (bees, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, moths and other advanced insects)
SubclassPTERYGOTA (bees, beetles, dragonflies, flies, grasshoppers, moths and other winged insects)
ClassINSECTA (true insects)
SubphylumHEXAPODA (insects and other 6-legged organisms)
PhylumARTHROPODA (arthropods)
SuperphylumECDYSOZOA (skin shedders)
CladeBilateria (bilaterally symmetrical animals)
SubkingdomEUMETAZOA (metazoans)
KingdomANIMALIA (animals)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Melolontha melolontha (Common Cockchafer, May Bug) :
1: Melolontha melolontha (Common Cockchafer, May Bug)
30 May 2008 OSGR: SU56 51° 30’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
at MV light, 30/31 May 08
Image 1: Taking off - dorsal viewImage 2: Taking off - dorsal view (2)Image 3: Taking off - dorsal view (3)Image 4: Taking off - lateral view - close-upImage 5: Taking off - lateral view - close-up (2)Image 6: Taking off - latero-dorsal view - close-upImage 7: Taking off - postero-dorsal viewImage 8: Taking off - rear three-quarter view - close-up
2: Melolontha melolontha (Common Cockchafer, May Bug)
26 May 2003 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
in Heath trap, 25/26 May 03
Image 1: Dorsal - enlargedImage 2: Dorsal - enlarged (2)Image 3: Dorsal - enlarged (3)Image 4: Head and thorax- ventral - enlargedImage 5: Ventral - enlargedImage 6: Ventral - enlarged (2)
3: Melolontha melolontha (Common Cockchafer, May Bug)
16 May 2002 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
in Heath trap
Image 1: Oblique viewImage 2: On its back - horizontal orientationImage 3: On its back - oblique viewImage 4: On its back - oblique view (2)Image 5: On its back - vertical orientationImage 6: On its back - vertical orientation (2)Image 7: Top view
4: Melolontha melolontha (Common Cockchafer, May Bug)
11 May 2002 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
under Heath Trap
Image 1: Oblique viewImage 2: Oblique view (2)Image 3: Oblique view (3)Image 4: Side view
5: Melolontha melolontha (Common Cockchafer, May Bug) IDENTIFICATION UNCERTAIN
7 May 2001 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
in lawn
Image 1: Larva - antero-lateral viewImage 2: Larva - antero-lateral view (2)Image 3: Larva - headImage 4: Larva - lateral viewImage 5: Larva - postero-lateral viewImage 6: Larva - postero-lateral view (2)Image 7: Larva - postero-lateral view (3)

Identification Works

AuthorYearTitleSource
Cooter, J. & Barclay M.V.L. (eds) 2006 A Coleopterist’s handbook The Amateur Entomolgist, 11, Fourth Edition edition, 439pp, Amateur Entomologists’ Society
Revels, R. 2005 Male Cockchafer Vol 16, No. 6 Page: Front cover

Melolontha melolontha (Common Cockchafer, May Bug) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Melolontha melolontha (Common Cockchafer, May Bug)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 6 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Melolontha melolontha (Common Cockchafer, May Bug)
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