Why is a May beetle called a May beetle?
I don't like bugs. Not even on beetles. But when I saw this little animal, I was surprised how beautiful it looks. It is brown and quite large, about 2.5-4cm. He defends himself with his brown shield and his spiky on his rear.
You used to have May beetle pests, they ate all oak trees bare and the grass areas had a lot of damage from them. They were then fought heavily with pesticides. A whole swarm of flying May beetles can eat a whole tree in a short period of time. Now you don't see these big insects that much anymore.
Photo: Kaatjem
The May beetles love sandy soils, because it grows most grass on it. Their babies, the larvae, live in the soil and nibble off the grass roots. Also called to roots of shrubs and trees, though, but mainly grass, The adult beetles eat leaves of shrubs and trees.
