Animal Species:Click beetles
There are about 800 different species of click beetles (family Elateridae) in Australia, many of which occur in the Sydney area.
A Click Beetle specimen
Andrew Donnelly
© Australian Museum
Number of species
800
Identification
Most click beetles them are a dull brown colour and are often attracted to lights at night. Other species are brightly coloured and are found on flowers.
Size range
1 cm - 1.5 cm
Distribution
Click beetles are found throughout Australia.
Habitat
Click beetles live in urban areas, forests and woodlands.
Feeding and Diet
The larvae of click beetles are generally plant-eaters and are known as wireworms because of their hard, shiny, cylindrical body.
Other behaviours and adaptations
Click beetles can flick themselves upright when lying on their back using a spring mechanism on the underside of their body. This may help them escape predators.
Classification
- Genus:
- Conoderus
- Subfamily:
- Agrypninae
- Family:
- Elateridae
- Superfamily:
- Elateroidea
- Order:
- Coleoptera
- Class:
- Insecta
- Subphylum:
- Uniramia
- Phylum:
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
Last Updated:
Tags beetles, insects, invertebrates, arthropods, identification, wildlife of sydney,
