Bug Identifier
Click Beetle
Community identification

Click Beetle

Aeolus mellillus (or similar Elateridae species)

Order & Family
Coleoptera: Elateridae
Size
12 to 30 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found globally in soil, rotting wood, and occasionally inside homes attracted to lights.

Diet & Feeding

Adults typically feed on nectar, pollen, or soft plant parts; larvae (wireworms) feed on plant roots or decaying organic matter.

Behavior Patterns

Known for a unique clicking mechanism that allows them to snap their body and launch into the air to escape predators or flip over if they land on their back.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to humans; larvae can be agricultural pests for certain crops, but adults are important in nutrient recycling and as prey for birds.