large flying beetles

[lilacben]

I live in Somerset and for the past week in the evenings when it gets dark we have been getting huge flying beetles banging into our patio door or flying into the house through the window if there is a light on. what are they.?

[Thunderbird+]

They could be stag beetles (males have 'antlers') or possibly dumble dores, which are huge roundish beetles that often fly at dusk.

[Cetti]

Hi lilacben, around now these huge creatures will be crashing into windows - and foreheads! I'll call them May Bugs as the AB censor will not allow the proper name - which is c***chafer.

[dancecaller]

When we first moved here we were laying a vinyl floor about this time of year. You had to spread a smelly glue, then wait for it to go tacky before rolling out the vinyl. Meanwhile the maybugs (yes, I agree with the name and picture) flew in, landed upside down and got stuck. It made the job much more difficult and those we didn't remove made big lumps in the floor.

[WendyS]

Like Thurderbird my guess is that they could be stag beetles, which are lack and almost the size of small birds. ~They have antlers and hard shells on their bodies which makes the crashing sound against your windows. Apparently they are becoming quite rare in various parts of the country. They are fascinating to see flying around. I see them only occasionally in our part of the country but when they land on the ground they are so big that you certainly couldn't tread on them accidentally.

[Celyn]

We are seeing these now here in Gwynedd. Over the past couple of days they fly into windows and into the house - rattling round lightbulbs like giant moths. They can be disconcerting if they land on fabric - clothing or curtains because they hook on immediately and are silent, so easy to loose sight of. I'm sure they are harmless Stag Beetles but look threatening because of their size and what appears to be a "sting" at the base of the body. Very interesting but not really welcome in the house.