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Family Elateridae - Click Beetles
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)
Superfamily Elateroidea (Click, Firefly and Soldier Beetles)
Family Elateridae (Click Beetles)
Other Common Names Wireworms (larvae) Explanation of Names The word elater means 'driver, hurler' and refers to the elastic power of motion possessed by these beetles (1) (more details here) Numbers ca 965 valid spp described from the Nearctic region + an estimated 75-100 undescribed (2); over 10,000 spp worldwide (3)
Overview of our fauna (4):
Family ELATERIDAE
Taxa not yet in the guide are marked (*)
Tribe Prosternini Actenicerus, Anostirus, *Anthracopteryx, Beckerus, Corymbitodes, Ctenicera, Eanus, Hadromorphus, Hypoganus, Liotrichus, Metanomus, Neopristilophus, Nitidolimonius, Oxygonus, Paractenicera, *Proludius, Prosternon, Pseudanostirus, Selatosomus, Setasomus, Sylvanelater
Notes:
1 Ampedus: Ectamenogonus sometimes used for those species with bicarinate pronotal hind angles
2 Ctenicera: in NA, C kendalli (Kirby) is the only species attributable to this genus; all other species cataloged in this genus are undergoing taxonomic review and will eventually get proper generic placement, with several new genera to be erected yet to accommodate some species ( eg, Ctenicera horni) Identification Peculiar in being able to "click" and jump: if placed on their backs, click beetles use the flexible union of the prothorax and mesothorax (the prosternal spine fits into a groove on the mesosternum) to snap and jump usually falling right side up (in other beetles, the union of prothorax and mesothorax allows little or no movement)
A key to NA genera provided in (5)(2)
Helpful image galleries include (6)(7)(8)(9)Range worldwide and throughout NA (2)Habitat Found in all but aquatic and the most severe arctic and alpine habitats (2): adults on flowers/vegetation or under bark; larvae in rotten logs or soil Food Adults usually eat plants. Larvae eat newly planted seeds, roots, etc., some eat other insects. Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm Additional contributions by cotinis, Stephen Cresswell, Beatriz Moisset, Ethanjf, Phillip Harpootlian, Lynette, Mike Quinn, Tim Moyer, Boris Bueche, v belov, bmathison1972Last updated 22 February, 2012 - 6:05pm |
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