Summer Chafer

This is the 'Summer Chafer', Amphimallon solstitialis, a close relative of the 'Cockchafer', Melolontha melolontha.

It has a very similar life history, the larvae feeding on roots of grasses and other plants for a period of 2-3 years, the adults emerging in late June hence the specific name solstitialis.

At dusk they actively fly around tree tops looking for a mate and can often be found flaked out in open containers or water butts/ponds the following morning. They are also attracted to light and come in through open, lit windows making quite a racket on your lampshade