Insects that would make a fine mess of the mantle (Given half a chance)

...Was just doing some late fettling last night...

all was quiet.....then Bang! on the window...

Grabbed a torch and ran round thinking a bird or bat had taken a wrong turning, but it turned out to be a Cockchafer or May Bug as they are sometimes called..

Not great flyers but quite big for our Insects... and enough to make me jump an swear..." What The..?"...

Anyone else seen one or maybe a Stag beetle???.


https://wikipedia.org/wiki/cockchafer

 

They used to be a regular thing down my chimney during this time of year, another good reason for having a snug fire guard stops them getting into the lounge.
Sound like a distant Chinook don't they
But havnt had any the last couple of years now you mention it

I know them better as 'Doodlebugs' (no wise cracks matthew )

 

Must have a name for myself, but keep yer doodlebugs to yer'self. To be honest I was more worried clicking the link (doesn't work by the way) titled "cockchafer".

Oh dear, no, I must not type out what I'm thinking.

 

. ..Well i tested it before i posted and it is still working up here???....

 

A stag beetle flew past me once when I lived in West London in the early '70s. I think it was coming in to land at Heathrow.

https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park/richmond-park-attractions/wildlife/stag-beetles/fun-facts-about-the-stag-beetle

Good job I had my brown corduroy pants on that day...

 

When I lived on the edge some woodland in my teens I saw both now and again, but I haven't seen either recently.

 

Of course, you ain't seen nothin' until you've seen a cuban cockroach take flight. Luckily it was in a pet shop, though why you would want one as a pet is beyond me.

 

Google tells me it was actually an American cockroach.

You would think a petshop would be able to identify which cockroach they sell is which.

 

The Cuban ones smoke cigars and shout, 'Yareeba!' whereas the American ones are...

(don't go there, David!)

 

Have blond hair that looks like a rug?

 

Oke boys, no pictures > it didn't happen, OK ?

 

....Earlier this morn I was rinsing some overalls that were soaking overnight and in another bucket that had some water in the bottom were 2 Cockchafers very bedraggled

.....Put them out the way in the sun to dry off, then as I was about to Posser the overalls saw another one!....Cockchafer City !!!

 

Perhaps it's just my iPad, never mind, I googled Cockchafer, I had to sift through some "unrelated" stuff, but I got there in the end.

 

That is a "Oldenborre".
Just 20 years ago they were a pain, but they are not so common any more. Every 4 year they come back in big numbers.
I think they are a nice piece of natures work to look at, and yeah - a real mantlekiller

Claus C

 

A 19th century recipe from France for cockchafer soup reads: "roast one pound of cockchafers without wings and legs in sizzling butter, then cook them in a chicken soup, add some veal liver and serve with chives on a toast"

Good Grief!

 

Sounds like the recipe for 'Stone soup'. Take one large smooth stone and bring to boil. Add (etc., etc.) until cooked to taste.

 

...then simply use a colander to separate the liquid from the large stone and discard that. The soup is now ready to serve to your guests.

It was a very thin consomme, I believe...

 

Well, for much of my life some talking head or another has regularly popped up on the news and said we will have consider eating insects for protein as the population grows/climate changes.

Of course, there is always Quorn, which I don't mind, but I do enjoy telling people what exactly Quorn is, usually while they are eating it!

 

Just some form of mycoprotein isn't it, made in a giant fermenter?

I went round the ICI factory on Teesside, probably around 30 years ago and I can't remember a blinking thing about it now. It ceased production and shut down many years ago, I believe...

 

Yes, just Mycoprotein, but that usually draws a blank look, so a little explanation of what a Mycoprotein is is required and they suddenly no longer seem too keen on Quorn.

HD

 

Well, people generally like beer, cheese, wine and yoghurt etc. OK, the jury's still out on Marmite...

I've had Quorn a few times and it's alright, especially when mixed 50/50 with real minced meat. If anything puts me off, it's the cost, Mo Farrer and that it's just so 'manufactured'. It could be the thin end of the 'Soylent Green' wedge for all I know. I see there are just six years to go before that hits the supermarket shelves...

 

Not keen on quorn, gives me indigestion. But then so does rice.

Anyone remember chocolate ants?

 

before my time I guess

 

...and mine! What vintage are you, Derek?

 

Before me too, as it seems. Or perhaps they just are a thing known to people in Britain?

 

Nah - Ray and I live in Britain (either end of England to be precise) and we've never heard of them.

I have heard of chocolate raisins, though...

 

David,
Are you sure you've never heard of chocolate ants ? I'm only 18 months younger than you and I remember being offered them by my mate Tom in the school playground in the '50's.

I think I must have declined because I've no memory of what they tasted like - other than chocolate of course.

Henry.

 

Chocolate covered ants have certainly been around in my lifetime and I'm less than half the age of David. I have no idea where they came from, but I was given a packet in my childhood.

I have no recollection of the taste.

 

...New one on me.....

.....Chocolate ants eh?....Whatever next...

....I always liked the idea of trying fried Locusts or Grasshoppers....

....Quorn is ok... better than force fed Geese or Calves....

pb

 

Wow, never heard of chocolate ants. Definitely heard of chocolate starfish though