False-click-beetles
Guides
Absensiugum teres
Absensiugum teres is a species of beetle in the family Eucnemidae, commonly known as false click beetles. The genus Absensiugum was established to accommodate species previously placed in other eucnemid genera. Members of Eucnemidae are characterized by their inability to produce the clicking sound that defines their relatives in Elateridae (true click beetles), despite similar body forms. The species name 'teres' refers to the smooth, rounded body shape.
Adelothyreus
Adelothyreus is a genus of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) established by Horn in 1890. The genus is rarely encountered, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist. Members of Eucnemidae are characterized by their inability to produce the clicking sound typical of true click beetles (Elateridae), despite superficial similarities in body form. The genus Adelothyreus appears to be poorly represented in collections and literature.
Asiocnemis
Asiocnemis is a genus of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) established by Mamaev in 1976. The genus is rarely collected, with only seven observations recorded on iNaturalist. Members of Eucnemidae are characterized by larvae that develop in decaying wood and adults that are often found in forest habitats. The genus is distinguished from related taxa by features of the prosternal process and antennal structure.
Aulonothroscus
Aulonothroscus is a genus of small false click beetles (family Throscidae) containing more than 20 described species. These beetles belong to the superfamily Elateroidea but lack the prominent clicking mechanism of true click beetles (Elateridae). The genus was established by Horn in 1890 and has been documented primarily in northern Europe and Scandinavia based on available distribution records.
Deltometopus
Deltometopus is a genus of false click beetles (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae) in the subfamily Macraulacinae and tribe Macraulacini. The genus is distinguished by its Nearctic distribution and includes species such as Deltometopus amoenicornis. Larval morphology has been described for at least one species, indicating development in decaying wood. The genus is accepted in coleopteran taxonomy with authorship attributed to Bonvouloir (1871), though a later homonym was proposed by Williams (1977) in Hemiptera.
Dirhagini
Dirhagini is a tribe of false click beetles within the family Eucnemidae, subfamily Melasinae. The tribe is distributed across the Palaearctic and Nearctic regions. Recent taxonomic work has clarified nomenclature and species boundaries, including descriptions of new species from the Russian Far East and redescriptions of poorly known taxa. Members of this tribe are characterized by specific larval morphological traits that distinguish them from other Eucnemidae.
Dromaeolini
Dromaeolini is a tribe of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) established by Beaulieu in 1919. The tribe is currently treated as a synonym within the subfamily Macraulacinae. Eucnemidae are characterized by their inability to perform the clicking jump mechanism found in true click beetles (Elateridae), despite superficial similarities in body form. Members of this group are typically small to medium-sized beetles associated with decaying wood.
Dyscharachthis
Dyscharachthis is a genus of false click beetles in the family Eucnemidae, established by Blackburn in 1900. It belongs to the monotypic tribe Dyscharachthini. The genus is poorly known, with minimal published information on its biology and morphology. Based on family characteristics, members are likely associated with decaying wood habitats.
Entomophthalmus
Entomophthalmus is a genus of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) established by Bonvouloir in 1871. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Melasinae and tribe Dirhagini. The genus contains at least one described Nearctic species, E. rufiolus, whose larval biology has been documented. Adult Eucnemidae are generally associated with decaying wood and fungal habitats.
Epiphanini
Epiphanini is a tribe of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) established by Muona in 1993. Members belong to the subfamily Melasinae, a group characterized by reduced clicking mechanisms compared to true click beetles (Elateridae). The tribe contains genera of small to medium-sized beetles with larvae that develop in decaying wood. Knowledge of this tribe remains limited due to the cryptic habits of its members and taxonomic challenges within Eucnemidae.
Epiphanis
false click beetles
Epiphanis is a genus of false click beetles in the family Eucnemidae, established in 1829. It is the type genus of the tribe Epiphanini. The genus includes both extant and extinct species distributed across Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.
Euryptychini
Euryptychini is a tribe of click beetles within the family Eucnemidae, established by Mamaev in 1976. Members of this tribe are classified in the subfamily Macraulacinae and share characteristics typical of the false click beetles, including reduced or modified clicking mechanisms compared to true click beetles (Elateridae). The tribe is relatively small and poorly documented in the scientific literature, with limited biological and ecological information available.
Hylocharini
Hylocharini is a tribe of click beetles within the family Eucnemidae, subfamily Melasinae. The group was established by Jacquelin du Val in 1859. Members of this tribe are characterized by features of the adult and larval morphology that distinguish them from other eucnemid tribes. The tribe is relatively small and poorly documented in published literature.
Isorhipis
false click beetles
Isorhipis is a genus of beetles in the family Eucnemidae, commonly known as false click beetles. The genus contains at least six described species distributed across Europe, Japan, and North America. Recent taxonomic revisions have revealed cryptic diversity within the genus, including the description of new species such as Isorhipis bicolor in 2024. These beetles are part of ongoing research into the classification and diversity of Eucnemidae.
Isorhipis nubila
Isorhipis nubila is a species of false click beetle in the family Eucnemidae. It was described as a new species during a revision of the genus Isorhipis. The species was recognized among specimens previously identified as the common Isorhipis obliqua, representing a cryptic species distinguished through detailed taxonomic revision. Specimens of this species have been collected in the Cincinnati, Ohio area.
Melasinae
false click beetles
Melasinae is a subfamily of false click beetles in the family Eucnemidae, containing approximately 15 genera and at least 30 described species. The subfamily includes several tribes: Calyptocerini, Ceballosmelasini, Dirhagini, Epiphanini, Hylocharini, Melasini, Neocharini, and Xylobiini. Genera within Melasinae include Melasis, Hylis, Epiphanis, Xylophilus, and Isorhipis. Some species, such as Hylis olexai, have established adventive populations in the Nearctic region after originating from Western and Central Europe.
Microrhagus
Microrhagus is a genus of false click beetles in the family Eucnemidae, tribe Dirhagini. The genus was established by Dejean in 1833 and contains Palaearctic species, including two species recently described from the Russian Far East (M. nikitskyi and M. vicarius). Members of this genus are small beetles associated with decaying wood habitats.
Nematodes
Nematodes False Click Beetles
Nematodes is a genus of false click beetles in the family Eucnemidae, tribe Nematodini. These beetles are part of the Elateriformia superfamily within the order Coleoptera. The genus name 'Nematodes' has been historically confused with nematode worms (phylum Nematoda), but refers here to a distinct group of insects. Members of this genus are characterized by their placement within the Eucnemidae, a family commonly known as false click beetles due to their resemblance to click beetles (Elateridae) while lacking the prosternal process that enables the clicking mechanism.
Nematodinus
Nematodinus is a genus of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) described by Lea in 1919. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Dirhagini within the subfamily Melasinae. The genus is characterized by morphological features typical of the Dirhagini, including antennae with distinct club segments. Information on this genus remains limited, with few documented observations.
Onichodon
Onichodon is a genus of beetles in the family Eucnemidae (false click beetles), established by Newman in 1838. The genus belongs to the subfamily Macraulacinae and tribe Macraulacini. Mature larvae of at least three Nearctic species have been described, though detailed biological information remains limited. Adults are poorly documented compared to the larval stage.
Perothops
beech-tree beetles, perothopid beetles
Perothops is a genus of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) and the sole genus in the monotypic subfamily Perothopinae. The genus contains three species: P. witticki, P. cervinus, and P. muscidus. Adults are small (10–18 mm), dark-colored beetles found in forests across the United States. The genus was historically treated as a separate family before being reclassified into Eucnemidae in 1993.
Protofarsus
Protofarsus is a genus of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) established by Muona in 2000. It belongs to a family characterized by larvae that develop in decaying wood. The genus is poorly known, with minimal published information and very few documented observations.
Proutianus
Proutianus is a genus of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) established by Muona in 1993. It belongs to the tribe Proutianini, a group of eucnemids characterized by reduced or modified hind wings that prevent the typical clicking mechanism found in related families. The genus is part of the diverse Elateroidea superfamily, which includes numerous beetle lineages with varied ecological adaptations.
Proutianus americanus
A species of false click beetle in the family Eucnemidae, native to western North America. The species was described by Horn in 1872. Very little published information exists on its biology or ecology, and it appears to be rarely encountered or reported in entomological literature.
Schizophilus
Schizophilus is a genus of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) established by Bonvouloir in 1871. It is the type genus of the subfamily Schizophilinae, a small group within the Elateroidea superfamily. The genus contains relatively few described species and remains poorly known in terms of biology and ecology. Specimens are rarely collected, contributing to limited understanding of their natural history.
Serrifornax
Serrifornax is a genus of beetles in the family Eucnemidae, established by Fleutiaux in 1926. The genus belongs to the order Coleoptera and is part of the infraorder Elateriformia. Records indicate at least 9 observations on iNaturalist, though detailed biological information appears limited in accessible sources.
Stethon
Stethon is a genus of beetles in the family Eucnemidae, first described by LeConte in 1866. Members of this genus are classified within the false click beetles, a group characterized by their inability to produce the clicking sound typical of true click beetles (Elateridae). The genus is part of the diverse beetle fauna of North America.
Thambus
Thambus is a genus of false click beetles (family Eucnemidae) described by Bonvouloir in 1871. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized beetles characterized by their elongated bodies and reduced or non-functional clicking mechanism compared to true click beetles (Elateridae). The genus is relatively poorly documented, with limited published information on species diversity and biology.
Vitellius
Vitellius is a genus of click beetles in the family Eucnemidae, established by Bonvouloir in 1871. The genus belongs to the order Coleoptera and is part of the false click beetle family, which is distinguished from the true click beetles (Elateridae) by certain morphological features. The genus name is derived from Aulus Vitellius, a Roman emperor who ruled briefly in 69 AD during the Year of the Four Emperors. As of current records, the genus has 14 observations documented on iNaturalist, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Xylobiini
Xylobiini is a tribe of false click beetles within the family Eucnemidae, subfamily Melasinae. Members of this tribe are associated with decaying wood habitats and are part of the diverse elateriform beetle fauna. The tribe was established by Reitter in 1911 and includes genera characterized by particular morphological features of the prosternal process and antennae. Xylobiini represents one of several tribes within the predominantly saproxylic subfamily Melasinae.
Xylophilus
Xylophilus is a genus of beetles in the family Eucnemidae, first described by Mannerheim in 1823. The genus belongs to the tribe Xylobiini within the subfamily Melasinae. Eucnemidae, commonly known as false click beetles, are a family of elateroid beetles characterized by larvae that develop in decaying wood. The genus name Xylophilus (from Greek xylon "wood" and philos "loving") reflects an association with woody substrates. The name Xylophilus is also used for a bacterial genus (Willems et al. 1987), but this taxon record refers to the beetle genus.