
Community identification
Click Beetle
Aeolus mellillus (or similar Elateridae species)
- Order & Family
- Coleoptera: Elateridae
- Size
- 12 to 30 mm in length
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.