At the end of April, when the air finally warms up, the cockchafer, a large and beautiful insect that is one of the most voracious pests, emerges from the ground.
The beetle, whose second name is Khrushchev, flies up to 20 km a day, destroying succulent leaves, ovaries and flowers on its way.
Many different means are used in the fight against insects, but none of them can completely destroy beetles and their larvae.
Description
What is he like? What kind of beetle does it look like? What is the name of the green beetle that looks like the cockchafer? Close relatives are bronze beetles and garden beetles , with which the cockchafer can easily be confused, since they have very few external differences.
Close-up photo of the bronze
What does an adult cockchafer look like? Khrushchi belong to the Coleoptera lamellar insects, the total number of their species is 25. All varieties are large in size , reaching 3.5 cm in length.
The body is oval or widened in the middle. The color can be black or brown . Black beetles live in shady places, such as forests or plantings. Brown beetles are found in open areas well lit by the sun.
The head and pronotum often have a green tint. The elytra are brown with a red or yellow tint. The barrel is decorated with small hairs collected in white triangles.
The entire body is densely covered with small dotted lines, as well as scales and hairs of light shades. On the head and pronotum the hairs are longer and collected in longitudinal stripes. The antennae consist of 10 segments; males also have large clubs, curved and lamellar.
The scutellum is large, smooth, with a pronounced shine . In some species it is lined with small dense dotted lines, in others - with scales or hairs. Long yellow hairs grow in a thick covering on the chest .
Why is the cockchafer cockchafer? The beetle received its nickname because it always wakes up from hibernation and begins active life exclusively in the month of May, regardless of the region where it lives.
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The coolest and best (TOP 50)
Hippo Jessica Hazik (“smart and skillful in Arabic) Chrissy Skoda Punia Avril Dashka Fuzball Catbas Zoe Bug Emily Karabay Andromeda Inessa Jude Lapa Best Tonic Naimus Ursalina Durex Stiff Emo Recar Diti (“mother of demons in the Hindu view”) Kaps Rose Daddy Monster Sartai Kiss Chupa -Chups Terra Mali (jasmine) Charlene Stief Minister Klusha Tea (cheerful, happy) Lux Denzel Herald (English) Roland Intares Morio (forest) Mate Bo (my wealth) Alba Knox Streak
Simple and easy
Tyrant Hast Cessi Nancy Selman Aten Andi Razumka Rocko Youth Germain (my brother) Giuddy Corinna Ocasia African Hildemour Harley Roxolana Eme Sanchez Nala Yums Saxaul Kuraga Fudo Santiago Ave Cadet Ne**__**im (an angel of enormous height) Tigger's Meow Silk Jockey Citrus Nas Tissa Iliad Ethel Kate Lucy Urban Chizzy Pretty Gray
Beautiful
Aldo (old and wise) Franco the Robber Rance Tina Averill Falco Roe Langur Angel Milady Caesarion Nathan Amphisbaen Alistair Ashton Cardelia Katsa-Nova Assol Azalea Gigol Toshibu Cat Woman Prite Arianna (pure heart, pure thoughts) Benedicta (blessed) Mysterio Ort Sen (spirit of the forest) ) Captain Apophis Kaba (birch) Zanzibar Anet/Annet/Aneis (grace, usefulness) Alistair Augustine Wales Nifertiti Felicia (luck) Anthea (flower) Jove (divine) Nicola Averill Disco Isley Cactus Eden
Cool and funny
Chakhor Toothless Conan Spark Fisan Smile Zulya Harik Franta Sheida Lisi Audi Agusha Maggie Ruben (contemplator) Finist Trigar Tabir Cowboy Central Paris Bomb Landers Paris Ukiko Natka Shadrin Khorik Uchan Murz Landers Meschent (goddess of newborns) Albee (white) Edin Hello Kitty Stuffed cabbage Hyman Conan Katrik Swayze Hansik Bayun Muffy Nash
Popular
May Irisa Mulatto Monaco Giordano Gorgon Bruno Talisman Evgenia Cat-Tilda Timych Notty Tsvetan Tarzan Sobchak Anika Tsoira Isidora Williams Forward Apache Aniko Tarik (bright star) Wolf Kiwi Viking Eshka Nor Nelson Peach Diago Osa Jurkas Zukeberg
Unusual, interesting and original
Airan Pike Bolivar Esme (dear to the heart, adored) Teka Oprah Whisker Muscat Danai Chamba Arman (strong and resilient) Botox Barberry Sandra Kaji (will of God) Berlinda Bronko Sati Vanlka Pacific Damien Traffic light Britt Ulan Casablanca Schumacher Pegasus Ron Bugs Wildan Kuksik Lolita Ared Noah Tiwi Urfin Chernysh Puma Thurman
For black
Werner (“guarding”) Adgam (black) Asia (gloomy) Bagirka Werner (“guarding”) Dayton Raven Darth Vader Asia (gloomy) Darth Vader Bes Woronica Adgam (black) Darth Vader Bagirka Darklight Viol Gagata (a coal-black stone that was used in amulets, amulets and in witchcraft) Crow Bagirka Dallas Asia (gloomy) Granita Darth Vader Bagirka View Darge Vivaldi Vithelotte Noir ("living black") Darge Darkley (darkness) Danko Verdi
For the redhead
Abrik (Apricot) Abrik (Apricot) Aiden (Celtic fire) Vaynerful Daitan (brave and brave) Aiden (Celtic fire) Versailles Crimson Danuta Crimson Crimson
For gray
Danon Gray (gray) Grayson Bethana/Betka (concrete color) Aurum Argentum Vizier Bethana/Betka (concrete color) Vviv Groucho Gauk Argyris (silver) Grice Gavin Bethana/Betka (concrete color) Vviv Groucho Danon Grai (gray) Azelstan (noble stone) , so you can call a gray cat)
Russians
Pinocchio Wave Castiel Kudu (thimble) Vanka Pulferia Rich Belka Varyusha Gorisvet Storm Volcano Oreshka Belka Ghoul Klondike Borzik Sinsa (in Portuguese) Dream Banker Gerasim (Hera, Gesya, Rasik) Taura (lake) Hussar Blik Galaxy Proud Free Bandit Banker Brylka Diver Wrath Gennady (Gena, Genasha, Genusya, Genya, Gesha) Master Antosha Valka Vyusha Ludwig Brutal Belyanochka Virus Bereginya Belka Knight Vympel Pinocchio Bogdan
English
Aidan St. John's Wort Ashton Kastoria Puffy Shakira Zhivchik Odette Baskerville Chardon Astin Zorka Reo (lion) Maximum Cosmo Tillo Rolf, Rudy, Rudolf (famous wolf) Wrigley Eshkan Cheater Othello Arian (in Welsh) Buckler Astin Blue Nonsense Narnia Neima Buttercup Raptor Stitch Chairy Tepka Yah (moon god) Sherry Jacques-Claude
German
Genevieve Marwick Nova Gothic Adolfo Nagir Chizhik Monk Gold Ingebar Hans Typhon Zhergan Kip Weiss Tom Smokey Wolgang (the way of the wolf) Vesya Rebel Seth
French
Meringue Gospard Gregor Vitoire (winner, victory) Baldua (daredevil, brave man) Bless Bastien Gregoire (vigilant defender) Antoine Bouchard (strong) Glatton Gregor Bijou Bourbon Bordeaux Vitoire (winner, victory) Beaumond Bless Balerion Bertram Adier Gaston Azhur Bonaparte Antoinette Bastian Bijou Hoffmann Garson
Japanese
Watashi (I'm sure) Budo (one of the martial arts) Akira Ayumu (flying in dreams) Darisk Ayumi (the one who walks in dreams at night) Atari (my luck) Bill Highlander Watashi (I'm sure)
Rare
Tamiko (child of the beauty) Tree India Rachel Britton Hatrick Tiger Reel Theo Schuler Topa Dodger Gamber Sergeant Tibbs Coventina (memory, recollection) Tutti Gingema (evil witch) Red Eclipse Tiffany Darth Kissel Taling Thatcher Khariton Sunny Happiness Khaleesi Februarylinka Angor Jaity Fero Sirius Erang Tsilli * *__** Temnysh Ulana Yang Zlatozar Ayavrik Piaf Murzya
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Kinds
Khrushchev beetle - what is it? Khrushch is the second name of this beetle. When we say May beetle, we mean any type of May beetle . In other words, May beetle (or May beetle) is a generalized name for all members of the family. The nickname was given to these insects so as not to be confused with other beetles that are not part of the May beetle family.
White
White Khrushchev - photo:
A variety whose body is covered with numerous chalky scales, making the beetle appear white. Although in fact, the body has the usual brown color. In males, scales are located much more often than in females, so it is easy to distinguish him by his lighter color tone . There are long, densely arranged hairs on the chest.
It belongs to large specimens, reaching a length of 3.5 cm. It lives in Central Asia and the steppe zone of Russia. Very common in Crimea and the Sea of Azov. Prefers sandy areas , living in the dunes of sea coasts and desert sands. Life expectancy - 3 years .
The larva feeds on many crops , including strawberries, potatoes, fruit trees and vineyards, actively eating their roots.
Oriental or wild chestnut
An adult beetle is relatively small - up to 2.9 cm. The body is elliptical-oblong, convex. The color is dark, predominantly brown with a reddish tint . The shine is not pronounced, the head is decorated with many specks.
The larva is much larger, its average size is 6.5 cm. The head is orange, the body is white, curved in the shape of the letter C. It is very voracious and polyphagous . It feeds on the roots of vegetable, field and garden crops, especially young seedlings. Often operates in nurseries and greenhouses.
Adult beetles eat the leaves of most trees , including conifers. Life cycle duration is 5 years.
Eastern view of the May Khrushchev - photo:
West
Outwardly similar to the Eastern Khrushchev, but differs in larger size , growing up to 3.2 cm in length. The body is stocky, very convex and wide at the sides. The shape is oval, elongated downwards. Coloration can vary from light chestnut to almost black or dark brown . There are light triangular spots on the sides of the abdominal segments.
On the front back there are grayish-yellow hairs; on the elytra they are sparse and lighter. The larva is a dirty yellowish hue, the head is brown, the jaws are brownish-yellow. It grows from 4.4 to 6.6 cm in length.
It feeds on the roots of trees, root crops, herbaceous plants and grain crops. Prefers young tree seedlings in nurseries, strawberries, sugar beets and potatoes.
Adults gnaw the leaves of shrubs and trees - beech, walnut, oak, alder, hazel, poplar, linden, willow, plum, pear, cherry and apple tree. It eats coniferous trees only in the absence of more tasty species.
The life cycle is 3-4 years. Distributed throughout almost the entire territory of Europe, including the European part of the CIS countries.
Western cockchafer - photo:
June or summer rootworm
The smallest species, reaching only 2 cm in length. The body is brown, densely strewn with yellowish hairs. The elytra are shiny, pale yellow. The length of the larva is no more than 4.5 cm.
They do not tolerate dampness , so they live mainly in sandy lands.
The color is dirty white, the head is brown. The larva is voracious and practically omnivorous ; when infested en masse, it can cause significant damage to plantings, especially in nurseries. The life span is 2-3 years.
Summer root gnawer - photo:
Life cycle features
Khrushchi are insects with complete metamorphosis. It is noteworthy that their life cycle is 4–5 years, of which no more than 3 months are allocated for the life of the beetle itself, and the “flying” phase is even less – 30–40 days. There are 4 stages of development of the cockchafer.
- Egg. Embryo development lasts up to 1.5 months.
- Larva. The longest life span of Khrushchev is 3–4 years.
- Doll. Pupation lasts 1.5–2 months.
- Imago. Young individuals crawl out of the soil in the spring for 1–2 months, after which they die.
Let us consider the features of the development of cockchafers at each stage of the life cycle.
Sexually mature individual (imago)
Khrushchev usually emerge from the pupa towards the end of summer. But young adults do not come to the surface; they overwinter in the soil. The basic instinct calls them to the surface in the spring of next year, when the sun warms the ground well and young foliage blooms on the trees - the insect's predominant food supply. The cockchafer emerges from the soil, rushes to the trees and begins to eat away after the winter.
After about a week, active years begin in search of sexual partners, and after mating, egg-laying begins in females. To do this, they dig deep into the soil several times (3–4), laying a total of up to 70 eggs. Heaps of embryos, 25–30 pieces each, are located in the fertile soil layer, no deeper than 10–20 cm. This is important, since the hatched larva feeds only on humus in the first year of life.
Having fulfilled their maternal (paternal) duty, Khrushchi live until the first days of July, after which they die.
Interesting! Scientists are wondering why the cockchafer flies if it contradicts physical laws. It is believed that before taking off, the insect inflates its abdomen with air, turning into something between a “helicopter” and an “airship.”
Embryonic development
Since female beetles lay few eggs by insect standards, almost all of them are preserved, mature and give birth to a new individual. Once in warm, loose, fertile soil, after 4–6 weeks, larvae emerge from the embryos - small white C-shaped worms with translucent covers.
Larval stage
Once you find out how long the cockchafer larva lives, you begin to understand why it is considered such a serious agricultural pest. The larval period lasts 3–4 years; after each season, the fattened chrobak molts, grows, and descends to a safe depth for wintering. This is what the life of a larva looks like over the years.
- In the first season after hatching, it is a harmless worm. It feeds on plant residues and humus. By the end of September, the hrobak is preparing for winter, going 1.5–2 m deep. That is why it is useless to fight the larvae when digging in the fall - you simply won’t find them.
- In the second instar, the cockchafer larva does more harm, as its appetite increases and its jaws grow larger. She can already handle the roots of garden crops and immature seedlings.
- After the second winter, a full-fledged pest emerges, capable of chewing through plant roots no worse than a mole cricket. Even young seedlings of bushes and trees suffer from third instar larvae.
- In the fourth year (for some species - in the 5th), the harmful activity of the larvae ends quickly - somewhere in the beginning of summer. She pupates.
Pupation
The cockchafer remains in the pupal stage for 1–2 months. And if the larva is mobile and voracious, the pupa, on the contrary, is completely immobilized and does not feed. A distinctive feature is that the outlines of an adult beetle are visible through the pale yellow cover - legs, abdomen, head.
Young adults appear in August, but they do not come to the surface and remain to overwinter at a depth of 20 to 40 cm.
External structure
Head
The mouth and sensory organs are placed on it. The mouth consists of jaws and lips - above and below. On the lower ones there are organs of taste and touch in the form of small palps. At the top of the head on the sides are the eyes, which have a complex facet structure.
Above them are antennae ending with 7 plates. The latter are the organs of smell. The entire head is pressed into the prothorax, causing it to tilt downward and not rotate laterally .
Breast
Divided into 3 sections - rear, middle and front. Each has a pair of legs (6 in total), and there are wings . On the dorsal side, the chest is hidden behind the elytra . They protect the soft covers of the back and thin hind wings from damage.
The front wings are much stiffer, so they do not require protection. With its feet, the cockchafer excels at clinging to branches and shoots and them well
The legs are not designed for dexterous walking on flat surfaces, so in such places the beetle moves slowly and awkwardly .
Abdomen
It has a fixed connection to the chest and includes 8 segments. From the back on the sides of the abdomen there are respiratory openings .
External structure of the May Khrushchev - photo:
False potato beetle
The immigrants from Colorado described above are an independent species in their family that has no varieties. But in nature there are beetles very similar to them, practically twin brothers, with the only difference that they do not cause much harm to potatoes and other garden plants.
They also feed on nightshades, but not cultivated ones, but weeds. But they are called potato beetles, only falsely. It’s just that they are really very similar to the terrible American pests we know, as well as their larvae. Only the colors of their clothes are not so bright, but noticeably more faded. The elytra are almost white, but are marked with the same longitudinal stripes.
Internal structure
Respiratory system
It is made up of many tubes with branches (tracheas). They deliver air entering the body through the spiracles to other systems.
Digestive system
The upper jaws bite off parts of the leaves, and the lower jaws grind them. The food then passes into the esophagus and from there into the stomach . It is equipped with teeth made of chitin to grind food. The remainder of the digestion process occurs in the intestines , and processed food is excreted through the anus.
Excretory system
A bunch of tubes closed at the top, the bases extend into the intestines. Their task is to filter metabolic products and convert them into crystalline substances.
Circulatory system
Blood does not take part in respiration; it only carries nutrients to the organs, carrying excretory products away from them. Moves due to the functioning of the heart.
Nervous system
Primitive, contains a peripharyngeal ring and an abdominal chain. The brain is a collection of nerve cells fused together.
Reproductive system
How does the cockchafer reproduce? The female has a pair of ovaries , which connect to form an oviduct. It brings the eggs formed in the ovaries out after maturation. To receive the seed there is a special reservoir - seminal receptacle .
The male has testes , they pass into the vas deferens and connect into a single canal for ejaculation.
insect eggs
What do cockchafer eggs look like? May beetle egg - photo:
Compared to the eggs of other insects, they are quite large - their length is 3 mm, width 2 mm. The color is dirty white, the shape is oval, widened on the sides.
The egg goes through a development cycle of about 30 days . The presence of unfavorable conditions extends it to 45-50 days. Eggs tend to gradually harden , beginning development under soft covers.
Fireman Beetle
This representative of the soft-bodied family also bears the name “country soft-bodied”. This is because the covers of its body, unlike its relatives in the order, are not hard chitinous, but soft, as well as flexible weak elytra. If it were not for the toxic substances secreted by these creatures, then they would have had a bad time in such clothing, which is so little capable of protecting them from their ever-watchful enemies.
Such beetles have an elongated body, up to 2 cm in size, equipped with segmented thread-like antennae at the front. They have a fire color, that is, a color where dark tones are contrastingly combined with bright shades of scarlet.
These are predators that hunt small prey, killing it with powerful poisonous bites and consuming it. And since these creatures are dangerous carnivores, they become useful to humans. And gardeners are trying to attract such insects to their plots. Firefighters destroy leaf beetles, caterpillars, aphids and other pests.
Stages of development
The female lays eggs - this is the first stage. The second begins after the larva . It is divided into three generations - baby, young and adult larvae.
A fully developed cockchafer larva enters the third stage of development - the pupa. She makes a cradle for herself shallow in the ground, developing for about a month. The pupa looks like an adult beetle curled into a C shape (see photo below). The color is quite intense - orange.
Adults emerge in late summer or fall and soon enter a dormant state for the winter. Waking up in the spring, they begin to reproduce .
How long does the cockchafer live? Its lifespan depends on the type of Khrushchev. If the June one can live for 2-3 years, then the Eastern Khrushchev can live for as much as 6 years.
May beetle (Khrushchev) - characteristics, description, appearance
The May beetle is a representative of the Coleoptera order, the Lamelidae family, and the Khrushchi subfamily.
It flies contrary to the law of aerodynamics, according to which the beetle has too short wings and weak muscles to be able to rise into the air.
However, while scientists are trying to unravel the secret of the unscientific features of the Khrushchev, it calmly flies 2 - 3 meters per second and continues to cause significant damage to forest and garden plantings.
What does it eat?
What do cockchafers eat? The larvae eat various roots , and the adults eat foliage .
Is the cockchafer a predator or not? Despite its impressive size, exceeding most other insects, the cockchafer poses no danger to them at all, eating exclusively plant foods .
May beetle pupa - photo:
Fighting cockchafer larvae
To get rid of beetle larvae, use the following means:
- "Zemlin";
- "Pochin";
- "Bazudin";
- "Aktara";
- "Anti-Khrushch."
Thanks to the active substance, these drugs penetrate deep into the soil and destroy pests.
There are drugs that attract larvae by smell. They are added to the holes with seedlings. The larva eats the poison and dies. Such drugs include “Rembek”.
The safest remedy for humans is Nematode. This biological preparation destroys up to 90% of larvae in the soil. You can also fight the larvae with folk remedies, the most effective of which is considered to be an infusion of onion peels.
What are the harms and benefits of Khrushchev?
Maliciousness
Why is the cockchafer dangerous?
The larvae spoil the roots of various plants, especially damaging young seedlings. Adults actively eat leaves. It is known that large populations can completely destroy a woodland or garden .
Fortunately, effective methods have now been developed to combat the cockchafer.
Benefit
Some sources claim that the cockchafer has healing qualities . It helps cure impotence, pulmonary tuberculosis, uterine cancer, scrofula and radiculitis.
Interesting facts about the cockchafer
The only benefit from cockchafers, or rather, from their larvae, is that they are excellent for fishing bait. According to fishermen, bream, ide, chub and perch are well caught using larvae.
Khrushchev fly contrary to the laws of physics. Scientists cannot understand how the thin wings lift three times as much weight into the air as they should.
It has also been proven that these insects cannot be knocked off course by any tricks; they still return to their route and are well oriented in the area.
elephant beetle
Another giant, growing in special cases up to 12 cm. The body of such creatures is predominantly dark, but the brown tint of their color is given by the hairs of this color. In males, a large, upward-curved, black horn grows from the head forward. To some it seems similar to an elephant's tusk, which is why the beetle was given this name.
This is a resident of the American tropics, living in the forests of Venezuela and Mexico. Despite their size, such insects fly beautifully. They feed in approximately the same way as their previous giant brothers. By the way, all three giants belong to the lamellar family.
