A beetle that escapes predators by snapping its body to launch itself into the air with an audible click — a remarkable mechanical hinge mechanism that can catapult the beetle up to 30 cm high.
The click mechanism
The click beetle’s escape mechanism is one of the most remarkable in the insect world. The beetle has a spine on its thorax that fits into a notch on its abdomen. When the beetle is on its back (or threatened), it arches its body, drawing the spine out of the notch and building up tension. When it releases, the spine snaps forward into the notch with an audible click, launching the beetle upward (up to 30 cm) and rotating it in the air.
The acceleration involved is extraordinary — up to 380 g-forces — among the highest of any mechanical system in biology. If the beetle lands upside down again, it simply repeats the process.
The larvae
Click beetle larvae (wireworms) spend 2–5 years in soil, feeding on plant roots. They’re a significant agricultural pest — wireworm damage to potato, cereal, and carrot crops costs farmers considerably. The larvae are thin, cylindrical, shiny yellow-brown, and extremely tough.
Ironically, many wireworms also prey on other insect larvae in soil, making them partially beneficial.
Diversity
The Elateridae family is enormous — over 11,000 species worldwide. Some tropical species (firefly-like click beetles, genus Pyrophorus) are bioluminescent, producing greenish light from two spots on their thorax. These were used as living lanterns by indigenous Amazonian people.
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Click Beetle starts with C and ends with E. Browse other insects along the same letter.
Insects that contain a letter from "Click Beetle":