# Click Beetle (*Agriotes spp.*) Click Beetles are known for their unique clicking sound when they flip themselves over. They can jump high to escape danger! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Fields, gardens, and forests - **Also known as:** Click Beetles, Skipjack Beetle, Wireworm Beetle ![Click Beetle](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426235/objects/5493.jpg) ## Appearance The Click Beetle has an elongated, flattened body, often dark brown or black, sometimes with a metallic sheen. They are distinguishable by their hard shell and a jointed 'neck' section that allows for a unique clicking movement. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Elateridae - **Genus:** Agriotes ## Interesting facts - Certain species can light up like tiny lanterns in the dark, using special glow spots! - Some tropical click beetles are huge, growing over 6 centimeters long! - The 'click' sound they make is one of the loudest sounds for an insect their size! - Their babies, called wireworms, can live underground for years before becoming adult beetles! ## Special abilities - **Click and Flip:** Click Beetle can snap their 'neck' joint to create a loud click, launching themselves into the air to escape predators or flip upright when on their back. - **Hardy Armor:** Click Beetles have a tough, armored exoskeleton that protects them from bumps, falls, and many predators in their environment. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 15-60 mm - **Size:** 5-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-1825 days - **Flight Speed:** 5-10 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip nectar; larvae munch roots, seeds, or other insects underground. - **Age differences:** Larvae (wireworms) feed mainly on plant roots and decaying matter, while adults primarily consume nectar and pollen. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Plant roots, Seeds, Decaying plant matter, Small insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Corn](https://www.snappit.app/explore/corn) (*Zea mays*) — Larval wireworms can damage crop roots. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Robins often pull wireworms from soil. - **Eaten by:** [Common Shrew](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-shrew) (*Sorex araneus*) — Shrews forage for larvae underground. - **Eats:** Wild Carrot (*Daucus carota*) — Adults feed on pollen and nectar. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Click Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Click Beetle's wingspan? 15-60 mm ### How big is Click Beetle? 5-25 mm ### How long does Click Beetle live? 14-1825 days ### How fast can Click Beetle fly? 5-10 km/h ### What does Click Beetle eat? Adults sip nectar; larvae munch roots, seeds, or other insects underground. ### Where is Click Beetle usually found? Fields, gardens, and forests ### How does Click Beetle hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Audubon Insectarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-insectarium) — Louisiana, US · Zoo - [Meadows Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/meadows-park) — California, US · Park - [Surrey Square Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/surrey-square-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see Click Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/click-beetle) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Click Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/click-beetle)