Early 18th century; earliest use found in Phillips's New World of Words. From post-classical Latin melolontha (U. Aldrovandus De Animalibus Insectis iv. v. 444; subsequently in scientific Latin as genus name: E. Geoffroy St-Hilaire Hist. abregée des insectes qui se trouvent aux environs de Paris I. 195) from ancient Greek μηλολόνθη cockchafer, lit. ‘fig sheep’ (because of the tendency of such insects to feed on figs) from μῆλον sheep + ὄλονθος fruit of the wild fig, a formation in -νθος of unknown origin.