Click Beetles

Elateridae

Classification

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Elateridae: /ɛlæˈtɛrɨdiː/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Compsolacon gracilis var. specularis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Alaus guamensis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Melanoxanthus bellulus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Compsolacon gracilis var. specularis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Cardiophorus decoratus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.
Compsolacon cognatus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Elateridae, or click beetles, are a family of beetles characterized by their distinctive click mechanism used for evasion of predators and regaining upright position. They have a cosmopolitan distribution with significant ecological roles as both predators and decomposers, though some species are also agricultural pests.

Physical Characteristics

Most species are under two centimeters long, typically brown or black, and without markings. Larvae are elongate, cylindrical or somewhat flattened, resembling mealworms, with three pairs of short legs and a pointed last abdominal segment in some species.

Identification Tips

Adults exhibit a unique clicking mechanism involving a spine on the prosternum; clicking is used for evading predators and righting themselves.

Habitat

Found in soil, rotten wood, and on vegetation. Adults may enter houses during warm nights.

Distribution

~960 described valid species in North America; ~10,000 species worldwide.

Diet

Larvae (wireworms) are primarily saprophagous, feeding on decaying vegetation and roots of plants. Some adult species feed on overripe fruit, nectar, pollen, and fungi.

Life Cycle

Most larvae spend three to four years in the soil before pupating, with some completing development in one year.

Ecosystem Role

Click beetles provide ecological functions as both predators and decomposers, especially through their larval stage.

Economic Impact

Some species cause damage to agricultural crops, including potato, strawberry, corn, and wheat.

Collecting Methods

  • Hand collecting
  • Pitfall traps
  • Soil sampling

Preservation Methods

  • Ethanol preservation
  • Drying for pinned specimens

Evolution

The oldest known species date back to the Triassic period; many fossil representatives belong to the extinct subfamily Protagrypninae.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Wireworms can be confused with legless larvae of other species, such as leatherjackets.

Tags

  • Click beetles
  • Elateridae
  • Ecosystem role
  • Agricultural pests
  • Wireworms