Click Beetle
Scientific Name: Family Elateridae
Order & Family: Order Coleoptera, Family Elateridae
Size: 2 mm to 80 mm depending on the species (most common species are 10-20 mm)
Natural Habitat
Found globally in diverse habitats including forests, grasslands, and gardens; often attracted to lights at night.
Diet & Feeding
Adults primarily feed on nectar, pollen, flowers, or occasionally soft-bodied insects. Larvae (wireworms) live in soil or decaying wood and eat roots, seeds, or other small invertebrates.
Behavior Patterns
Famous for their clicking mechanism: when on their backs, they use a prosternal spine to snap and propel themselves into the air to right themselves or escape predators. Most are nocturnal.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans. Larvae (wireworms) can be significant agricultural pests by damaging the roots of cereal crops and potatoes. In the ecosystem, they serve as a food source for birds and small mammals.
Identified on: 5/30/2026