Editing Cockchafer (section)

=== Adults ===
[[File:Cockchafer.JPG|thumb|Close up of a male cockchafer, showing the seven "leaves" on the antennae|277x277px]]
[[Imago|Adults]] of ''M. melolontha'' reach sizes of {{convert|25|to|30|mm|in|frac=4|abbr=off}} in length.<ref name=":0" /> Behind their heads they have a black [[pronotum]] covered with short hairs. This black coloration distinguishes them from their close relative ''M. hippocastani'', whose pronotum is brown. The top of their bodies have hard, brown [[Elytron|elytra]] and a black [[Thorax (arthropod anatomy)|thorax]], while their underside is black and partly white on the sides. They have a dark head with two antennae with ten segments each. Male cockchafers have seven "leaves" on their [[Antenna (biology)|antennae]], whereas the females have only six.<ref name=":0">{{citation |author=Huiting, H. F., Moraal, L. G., Griepink, F. C., & Ester, A. |year=2006 |title=Biology, control and luring of the cockchafer, ''Melolontha melolontha'': literature report on biology, life cycle and pest incidence, current control possibilities and pheromones |publisher=Praktijkonderzoek Plant & Omgeving |url=https://edepot.wur.nl/121073}}</ref>