Click Beetle (possibly genus Ampedus or Athous)
Scientific Name: Family Elateridae (exact species not determinable from image, likely Ampedus or Athous)
Order & Family: Order: Coleoptera, Family: Elateridae
Size: Typically 5mm to 30mm for adults, depending on species. The one in the image appears to be on the smaller to medium side of this range.
Natural Habitat
Found in various habitats including forests, grasslands, agricultural fields, gardens. Larvae (wireworms) live in soil.
Diet & Feeding
Adult click beetles primarily feed on nectar, pollen, decaying plant matter, or sap. Some species are predaceous. Larvae (wireworms) can be destructive, feeding on roots, seeds, and stems of various plants.
Behavior Patterns
Adult click beetles are known for their unique 'clicking' mechanism, which they use to right themselves when overturned, or to escape predators. They can jump into the air with an audible click. Larvae (wireworms) live in the soil for several years before pupating and emerging as adults.
Risks & Benefits
Potential risks include agricultural damage from wireworm larvae, which can be significant pests of crops like corn, potatoes, and small grains. Benefits include adults acting as pollinators to some extent, and some wireworm species being beneficial predators of other insect larvae.
Identified on: 9/5/2025