The common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha), also colloquially known as the Maybug, Maybeetle, or doodlebug, is a species of scarab beetle belonging to the genus Melolontha. It is native to Europe, and it is one of several closely-related and morphologically similar species of Melolontha called cockchafers, alongside Melolontha hippocastani (the forest cockchafer).
The adults and larvae feed on plants, and are regarded as serious agricultural pests of crops such as grasses and fruit trees. Adults have harmful effects for the crop when they aggregate in large group. The larvae can cause severe damage and kill the plant by gnawing the plant roots. The cockchafer develops via metamorphosis, in which the beetle undergoes stages of egg, larvae, pupae and adults.
The mating behaviour is controlled by pheromone. The males usually swarm during the mating season while the females stay put and feed on leaves. The leaves release green leaf volatiles when they are fed on by females, which the male can sense and thus locate the female for mating opportunity. The larvae use both the plant volatiles and CO2 to locate the plant root for food.
The number of cockchafers increased over the past few years due to the decrease in pesticide usage. Soil tilling can be used to remove larvae hatching. Entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes can effectively remove beetles at larvae stage.
Cockchafers are prevalent across Europe, including nations like Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. They are particularly prevalent in temperate regions with suitable soil conditions for larval development. However, they have also been reported in parts of Asia, such as Turkey and the Caucasus region. The absence of cockchafers from North America and Australia can be attributed to their natural distribution range, which primarily encompasses Europe and Parts of Asia. Factors such as geographical barriers, climatic conditions, and ecological factors that may limit their dispersal to other continents.
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