Why the may-bug is called by a cockchafer, nobody knows for sure. According to one version, in the spring, after awakening, they so actively eat around leaves that the crunch is created. On another, in May when bugs are active most of all where you will not step, the cockchafers roll everywhere on the ground, creating a characteristic sound underfoot.
The may-bug, in common people of a cockchafer, is carried to family of leaf-horned beetles.
Cockchafers generally sleep in the afternoon, leading a nocturnalism, are fed and fly in twilight.
Distinguish three main types of these insects: -east bug chose for himself high trees and the woods, he lives in the territory of Europe and Asia; -the Western European bug prefers various hills and woody heights for permanent residence; -melolontha pectoralis belongs to very rare species and meets in Australia and the southeast regions of Germany.
On appearance they can also differ a little: some adult individuals have a black coloring, others - a red color with a red preback. Red may-bugs prefer solar places and live in northern areas, and black live in low-solar southern latitudes.
Features of may-bugs
The may-bug has one unsolvable riddle of the nature. On the existing laws of aerodynamics he should not fly as his wings are developed insufficiently to lift the weight of a bug in air. But it to itself(himself) quietly flies, without guessing it at all. Besides, the fact that the cockchafer constantly on a straight line flies is interesting. If to catch, for example, the bug flying to a grove and then to let out him on the other hand, then he will depart directly, moving away from it. Scientists, watching a may-bug, paid attention that being at rest, the bug always focuses the head on the East or the North that allows to assume that he can feel magnetic field of Earth.
What does the may-bug eat?
As the bug spends eight months in a year in hibernation, having wakened, he likes to regale on gentle young foliage. Since the end of April when on trees leaves only appear, it begins Gers. And, also needles, flowers of fruit plants and garden crops are used. Villagers begin to conduct with them merciless fight at this time.
Only fishermen are glad to larvae of a may-bug, perhaps, they successfully use them for catching of a chub.
Enemies of a may-bug
Various birds love and do not disdain may-bugs and their dolls: sorok, starlings, jays. Cockchafer larvae with pleasure are eaten and the posterity bugs ground beetles feed. The person destroys a may-bug pesticides that leads to poisoning and crops. For prevention of this process, active search of not chemical ways of fight against these wreckers in the form of various bacteria and fungi is conducted.