summer brown beetles

terambulan | 22:28 Tue 22nd Jul 2008 | Animals & Nature

5 Answers

They're coming down my chimney now. Horrid brown beetles (thumbnail size) that fly blindly around...........and usually land in my hair......yuk!

What are they and why down the chimney which is used in cold periods.

Cat worries

Fish Disappeared

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KRUSTYMAN

They sound like they could be 'May bugs', though in my area people call them 'June bugs' because they seem to arrive a little later. Are they a kind of burnished beige colour or actually brown? If they are the former rather than the latter then I would assume them to be the May/June bugs. If so, they may be repulsive little blighters but to be fair to them, they do live underground for about 10 years before emerging and then only live for about 24 hours. They particularly like Conifer trees or they do in my locality.

wildwood

Why not make an easily removable cover for the chimney end where they enter your dwelling. I presume you have an open fire or similar.

terambulan

Question Author

I do have an open fire. I get these bugs every year so no chance of them hibernating for 10y. No close conifers. Description sounds right 'though this is July.

I notice the ants took flight today.......possible a sign of good weather?

KRUSTYMAN

It's not a case of hibernating for 10 years this how long they spend underground before emerging to take flight. There are new ones emerging every year but only live for about a day, presumably just to mate and lay eggs. They do look horrible when in flight but if you take a look after they have died - of natural causes - they do have a fascinating colour. Thankfully they are not around for long and the conditions have to be right -as you pointed out, the flying ants are out where you live so presumably they use the same kind of meteorlogical (probably mis-spelt that) clock.

B00

Yuck, this would be the stuff of nightmares for me, somethink akin to a horror film! Bugs flying down your chimney into your hair? YUCK!!!!

Id have to go with wildwood's suggestion and put some sort of cover, even if it was only cardboard- either that or move to be honest!

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