Bug Identifier
Click Beetle
Community identification

Click Beetle

Aeolus mellillus

Order & Family
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Elateridae
Size
Approximately 5 to 10 mm in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Typically found in grassy fields, gardens, and under leafy debris. They often enter homes when attracted by artificial lights.

Diet & Feeding

Adults primarily feed on plant material and nectar. The larvae (known as wireworms) feed on plant roots and seeds, often in agricultural settings.

Behavior Patterns

Notable for a unique 'snapping' or clicking mechanism between the prothorax and mesothorax, which allows them to flip themselves upright if they land on their back. They are primarily nocturnal and are attracted to light.

Risks & Benefits

Adults are harmless to humans. However, the larval stage (wireworms) can be significant agricultural pests, damaging crops like potatoes and corn. In the ecosystem, they serve as a food source for birds and small mammals.