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Family Elateridae - Click Beetles

Click Beetle:  Euthysanius species - Euthysanius - male Eyed Click Beetle - Alaus oculatus Olive Click Beetle sp. - Orthostethus infuscatus Hairy Click Beetle - Melanotus Click Beetle - Ctenicera volitans Negastrius exiguus Click Beetle Click beetle
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
Larvae are commonly called wireworms
Explanation of Names
The word "Elater" means literally a "driver or hurler, " and refers to the elastic power of motion possessed by these beetles (Blatchley, p. 698 (1)). See genus Elater for more details.
Numbers
About 965 valid spp. described from the Nearctic region, with an estimated 75-100 undescribed spp. from the region awaiting study. (2)
After Johnson 2009:
Family ELATERIDAE
Subfamily CEBRIONINAE
Tribe Cebrionini. Scaptolenus, Selonodon
Tribe Aplastini. Aplastus, Euthysanius, Octinodes
Subfamily ELATERINAE
Tribe Elaterini. Diplostethus, Dolerosomus, Elater, Mulsanteus, Orthostethus, Parallelostethus, Sericus
Tribe Megapenthini. Megapenthes
Tribe Agriotini. Agriotella, Agriotes, Dalopius, Glyphonyx, Leptoschema
Tribe Ampedini. Ampedus, Anchastus, Blauta, Dicrepidius, Dipropus, Elatrinus, Melanotus, Physorhinus
Subfamily CARDIOPHORINAE
Subfamily LISSOMINAE
Bladus, Drapetes, Oestodes
Subfamily AGRYPNINAE
Tribe Agrypnini. Agrypnus, Danosoma, Lacon, Meristhus, Rismethus
Tribe Oophorini (=Conoderini). Aeolus, Conoderus, Deronocus, Heteroderes
Tribe Pseudomelanactini. Anthracalaus, Lanelater
Tribe Pyrophorini. Deilelater, Ignelater, Vesperelater
Tribe Hemirhipini. Alaus, Chalcolepidius, Pherhimius
Subfamily PROSTERNINAE
Tribe Athoini. Athous, Denticollis, Elathous, Euplastius, Hemicrepidius, Limonius, Micrathous
Tribe Oxynopterini. Melanactes, Oistus, Perissarthron
Tribe Prosternini. Actenicerus, Anostirus, Anthracopteryx, Beckerus, Corymbitodes, Ctenicera, Eanus, Hadromorphus, Hypoganus, Liotrichus, Metanomus, Neopristilophus, Nitidolimonius, Oxygonus, Paractenicera, Proludius, Prosternon, Pseudanostirus, Selatosomus, Setasomus, Sylvanelater
Tribe Hypnoidini. Ascoliocerus, Berninelsonius, Cryptohypnus, Desolakkerus, Hypnoidus, Hypolithus, Ligmargus, Margaiostus
Subfamily NEGASTRIINAE
Fleutiauxellus, Microhypnus, Migiwa, Negastrius, Neohypdonus, Oedostethus, Paradonus, Zorochros

Notes:
1. Ampedus: Ectamenogonus sometimes used for those species with bicarinate pronotal hind angles.
2. Ctenicera: strictly only C. kendalli (Kirby) is attributable to this genus from North America. All other species cataloged in this genus are undergoing taxonomic review and generic transfer.
Size
1-60 mm (2)
Identification
A key to North American genera is found here (2003).
Range
Throughout the Nearctic region. (2)
Habitat
Found in all but aquatic and the most severe arctic and alpine habitats. (2)
Adults are found on flowers, under bark or on vegetation. Many of the larvae are found in rotten logs. Pupae are found in the ground, under bark or in rotten logs.
Food
Adults usually eat plants. Larvae eat newly planted seeds, roots, etc., some eat other insects.
Remarks
They are peculiar in being able to "click" and jump; in most related groups the union of prothorax and mesothorax is such that there is little or no movement.
The clicking is made possible by the flexible union of the prothorax and mesothorax and the prosternal spine that fits into a groove on the mesosternum. If they are placed on their backs they use this mechanism to snap and jump usually falling right side up.
Print References
American Beetles, Vol.2, Chapter 58 (2)
Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects (3)
Peterson Field Guides: Beetles (4)