Bug Identifier
Click Beetle
Community identification

Click Beetle

Family Elateridae

Order & Family
Order Coleoptera, Family Elateridae
Size
Typically 10 to 30 mm (0.4 to 1.2 inches), though some species vary.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found worldwide in varied environments including forests, grasslands, and gardens. Often found under bark, in rotting logs, or on foliage.

Diet & Feeding

Adults mostly feed on nectar, pollen, flowers, or occasionally soft-bodied insects. Larvae (known as wireworms) eat roots, seeds, and decaying organic matter.

Behavior Patterns

Famous for their 'clicking' mechanism; when on their backs, they use a prosternal spine to snap and flip themselves into the air to escape predators or right themselves. They are often nocturnal and attracted to lights.

Risks & Benefits

Adults are harmless to humans. However, their larvae (wireworms) can be significant agricultural pests, damaging the roots of crops like corn and potatoes. They benefit the ecosystem by aiding in the decomposition of wood.