Common Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha)

Common Cockchafer, a reference photo — Photo: Frank Vassen from Brussels, Belgium · CC BY 2.0 (licence)

The common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha), known colloquially as the Maybug, Maybeetle, or doodlebug, among many other names, is a species of scarab beetle belonging to the genus Melolontha. It is native to Europe, and it is also one of the several closely-related and morphologically similar species of Melolontha called cockchafers, alongside Melolontha hippocastani (the forest cockchafer) as the latter also shows sexual dimorphism, mating practices, and key physical features such as the number of lamellae.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is it venomous or poisonous?

We have no record of Common Cockchafer being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.

Easily confused with

Melolontha hippocastani

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Genus: Melolontha
Species: Melolontha melolontha

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