noun
- A large European beetle with a reddish-brown wing case and black thorax, commonly seen in spring.
Usage: Also called a doodlebug or May bug in some regions.; The larva is a white grub found in soil.
Examples
- The cockchafer emerged from the soil in late April.
- Children used to collect cockchafers in the spring months.
- The cockchafer's larvae can damage plant roots in gardens.
- A cockchafer flew clumsily through the evening air.
- Farmers have long been familiar with cockchafer infestations.