Athous acanthus
(Say, 1839)
Prickly Click Beetle
Athous acanthus, commonly known as the Prickly Click Beetle, is a of click beetle in the Elateridae. It occurs in eastern Canada, with records from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. Like other click beetles, it possesses the family-characteristic prosternal process that enables the clicking mechanism used for righting itself when overturned.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Athous acanthus: /ˈæ.θaʊs əˈkæn.θəs/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Distinguished from similar Athous by the specific epithet 'acanthus' (Greek for thorn or spine), though detailed diagnostic features require examination. The Athous contains numerous similar species, many requiring dissection or examination of genitalia for reliable identification. Click beetles generally are recognized by their elongated form, pronotum shape, and the prosternal spine that fits into a mesosternal groove to produce the clicking sound.
Distribution
Eastern Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec.