Who's that knocking on the window?

Knock, knock.  Who's there?  Knock, knock.  

Midnight last night there was a cockchafer beating its head against the window.  I've not seen one of these for a while.  A magnificent creature: a large beetle that opens its wing cases, unfolds its wings and rather improbably and clumsily takes off with a deep droning noise.  Totally harmless to humans (Mrs M wasn't convinced of this when I called her out to see it and it flew onto the shoulder of her dressing gown).  

Here it is crawling up my leg.  Aren't those antennae something?

Also known as a snartlegog, may bug, billy witch, spang beetle, doodlebug and other local names, 'cockchafer' simply means big chewing beetle.  So not what you thought.

As with all insects, numbers have plummeted due to excessive pesticide use, but apparently their numbers are now increasing.  Good news for other wildlife that feeds on the big juicy larvae.