Click Beetle

Natural Habitat

Found in various habitats including forests, grasslands, gardens, and sometimes indoors. Larvae (wireworms) live in soil.

Diet & Feeding

Adult click beetles generally feed on pollen, nectar, or plant juices, and some may not feed at all. Larvae (wireworms) are primarily detritivores or root feeders, feeding on germinating seeds and roots of various plants; some species are predatory.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are named for their ability to 'click' and jump into the air when overturned, using a spine on their prosternum and a notch on their mesosternum. This mechanism helps them right themselves and escape predators. They are often nocturnal or crepuscular. Larvae are soil-dwelling and can be destructive agricultural pests.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Larvae (wireworms) can be significant agricultural pests, causing damage to crops like corn, potatoes, wheat, and vegetables by feeding on roots and seeds. Benefits: Some species are beneficial as predators of other insect pests. Adult beetles can serve as food for birds and other wildlife, and contribute to pollination in some cases.

Identified on: 9/19/2025