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Original poster

Anyone seeing a lot of billy witches this year?

61 replies

rosebud5678 · 29/06/2019 23:24

If you live in Suffolk you will know the horror to which I refer...my daughter says several of her friends have had them flying into their bedrooms in the evenings. They properly Freak Me Out. Anyone?

OP posts:
simplekindoflife · 30/06/2019 00:18

Helllooo!

Anyone seeing a lot of billy witches this year?
ProfYaffle · 30/06/2019 00:20

I'm on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Have never heard of them before this year, social media stuffed with sightings/hysteria about them.

JemSynergy · 30/06/2019 00:28

I've never heard of them, just googled. Quite like their wacky eyebrows.

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Spooky & paranormal
julensaor · 30/06/2019 00:41

Apparently the French used to make soup out of them, and German kids would eat them coated in sugar

oh ffs that is just disgusting. Thanks @GCAcademic no sweet dreams for me tonight.

PissOffPeppa · 30/06/2019 01:33

I hate them! I actually did get one stuck in my hair when I was 16. My friend threw her bag at my head to knock it out (it worked!)

EBearhug · 30/06/2019 01:36

They're lovely! Haven't seen any so far in Hampshire.

vastknapsack · 30/06/2019 01:39

None so far this year (Suffolk) but plenty of stag beetles!!

PlatypusPie · 30/06/2019 01:44

! And they fly at you ? !! I have somehow managed to not previously know about these ( although had heard the name May bugs). Eugh .

Though their eyebrows/antennae are very fetching.

managedmis · 30/06/2019 02:37

Are these real, though?

DickZillaofTheVilla · 30/06/2019 04:05

@Breathlessness imagine cataloguing them all Confused

Sobeyondthehills · 30/06/2019 04:08

I didn't know they were called this, but yes had to rescue a couple from my cat recently

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 30/06/2019 04:13

The first time I met one of these things was when it flew in through an open window one night into the room we were sharing with our brand new pfb. I was more then a little concerned that she would be bitten or stung by this crazy alien!!

feesh · 30/06/2019 04:13

Cockchafers are one thing, but these motherfuckers are the wasps that we have to endure in the Middle East.....

Anyone seeing a lot of billy witches this year?
Sparklfairy · 30/06/2019 04:16

feesh Shock I wouldn't consider myself squeamish or a wimp but fuck me this thread has given me the heebie jeebies yet I keep coming back to it

SaskiaRembrandt · 30/06/2019 05:37

Also sniggering at cock chafers.

Nautiloid · 30/06/2019 05:50

I accidentally dug one out of my veg patch the other day. He was most out out. He looked fully grown so I popped him down a way away but he then kept following me, he was either seeking his revenge or had an unhealthy fixation with living under my leg. Urgh.

Nautiloid · 30/06/2019 05:51

Put out

Xanadu58 · 30/06/2019 06:00

We used to see them all the time (we live in Suffolk), my DD calls them willy bitches !Grin

Progress2019 · 30/06/2019 07:12

They’re so cute. I’m not saying I wouldn’t run away if I saw one in real life, but from the photos I like them

CornerofUpandDown · 30/06/2019 07:15

I saw my first one this year. Normally insects don't faze me, but this bug did! I think it was the combination of the noise, it's size and my myopia I thought it was some mutant hornet! 🤣😂 It wasn't till I saw one closer at work that I realised what it was.

dudsville · 30/06/2019 07:17

French people need to be told to stop that kind of shit.

Also I'm very disgruntled now to learn that we have this kind of creature here.

dudsville · 30/06/2019 07:17

(I just couldn't fathom the idea that German kids eat them too )

FairySunbath · 30/06/2019 07:20

Well that thing can fuck right off. I'm not squeamish about insects (except cockroaches) but that's nasty. I've never seen one of those in my life and I'd like it to stay that way.

Danceswithlightning · 30/06/2019 07:21

I've only ever seen one. It flew full pelt in through my living room window straight into the light killing itself. Scared the shit out of me poor thing.

VenusClapTrap · 30/06/2019 07:46

I actually answered the door to one once. There was this slightly odd but insistent tapping, late at night, so I opened the door and in flew a May bug, straight into my face.