Huge beetle with feathery tail?

[flowerpots]

Please tell me this isn't a cockroach...

I found this beetle-thing sitting on the frame inside my greenhouse in full sun - it was a dark red/brown colour and was perhaps the length of my thumb.
I freaked out and disposed of it but now I've found a dead one in the sink in my garage (which is behind the greenhouse).

I've googled pictures of cockroaches but it doesn't look exactly like the pictures I've seen.

Does anyone have any ideas what this could be / want to tell me the worst?

I have a picture on my phone, but I haven't managed to work the software to get it onto my computer yet!

[zazen999]

I've only seen one cockroach; just to keep to stereotypes it was in New York.

It crossed 23rd Street, hopped onto the pavement, and strutted across our path and went down a nearby alley. I was definitely on a mission, clacking it feet and there was nothing else really to do but stand and watch it. It was the size of a teaspoon length wise.

Unfortunately it was about 30 feet from our hotel entrance; but what can you do? We are surrounded by all sorts of insects and beasties; if I thought about it too much I'd never get to sleep. Esp living in the country now, where spiders spin webs in a matter of minutes it would seem.

I don't know what yours was, have you tried googling beetles with tails?

[kernowyon]

could be a maybug?

Maybugs


Cockchafers - Melolontha melolontha - UK Safari

[Hilary B]

I have seen 'german cockroaches' in Spain (must have got lost) and they are slender beetles about 3cm long, plus antennae. The ones found in a few places in American cities are bigger and broader (judging by the ones I saw on that TV program). Neither sort have noticeable tails.
The ones I've seen in Spain it was a brief glimpse, before our lovely geckos ate them (who needs insecticides?)

[Arachne]

Cockchafers - Melolontha melolontha - UK Safari

Sounds painful...

[Cloud]

It could have been a devils coach horse if it was thin,or maybe a stag beetle!!!

[Gwyndy]

Agree with Cloud - could be a Stag beetle at this time of year. We get them colliding with the kitchen window at night if the light is on.

Does it look like this?

Stag Beetle

[lzyjo]

Oh god, don't get me started on cockroaches. I hope for your sake that it's not. Sitting in bright sunlight doesn't sound very cockroachy. Ewwwwww. I'll spare you all my cockroach and rat stories. Way too gross.

[lzyjo]

Oh, could also be a junebug, they're like chafers, they look a lot like roaches except they fly. It's extremely scary when they take off, especially if it's inside!

[flowerpots]

could be a maybug?

Maybugs


Cockchafers - Melolontha melolontha - UK Safari

That's it exactly! Thank goodness! Thank you all for the replies, I'm so relieved!!

I just feel slightly guilty I killed the first one now

[Cloud]

Now I know what the larvae look like.When I dug my plot in the winter I had a few of these and didn't know what they were.

[shirlthegirl43]

I might ask Madmax to relate a story of me and a cockroach. I cannot bring myself to share the tale sorry.

[lynda66]

*feels very relieved i dont live in the south of England* those things FLY eeekkkkkkk *faints*

kill them, it says on that site they eat your veggies, and when they have finished all them they start on humans *nods*

[flowerpots]

*feels very relieved i dont live in the south of England* those things FLY eeekkkkkkk *faints*

kill them, it says on that site they eat your veggies, and when they have finished all them they start on humans *nods*

hehe, i hate to break it to you but I don't live in the south of England, they must be moving north!

Sounds scary Shirlthegirl, do tell!

[lynda66]

NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO kill them kill them all