Click beetle

Definition

Any beetle of the family Elateridae, known for their ability to snap their bodies, creating a clicking sound as a means of escape from predators or to right themselves when turned over.

Etymology

From the clicking sound produced by the beetle, combined with the word 'beetle' from Old English 'bitela', meaning 'biter'.

Example

When threatened, a click beetle will flip itself into the air with a clicking sound to escape danger.

Synonyms

• Elater beetle
• Skipjack
• Snapping beetle

Related Terms

• Elateridae
• Invertebrates
• Coleoptera
• Metathoracic spine

Usage Notes

Click beetles are commonly found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and agricultural areas. They are notable for their distinctive clicking mechanism, which involves a spine on the prosternum snapping into a groove on the mesosternum.