# Prosternon bombycinum

The Prosternon bombycinum is a shiny, colorful beetle that loves to hide under leaves. It has a special shape that helps it blend in with its surroundings, making it a little tricky to spot!

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![Prosternon bombycinum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Prosternon_bombycinum.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Ellyne Geurts, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prosternon_bombycinum.jpg)

## Appearance

The Prosternon bombycinum is a slender click beetle, typically 9-14mm long, with a distinct metallic sheen. Its body is often a coppery-brown or bronze, sometimes with subtle green reflections, making it subtly stand out from duller forest beetles.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Coleoptera
- **Family:** Elateridae
- **Genus:** Prosternon

## Interesting facts

- Adults often hang out in woodlands, quietly sipping on tree sap and pollen.
- Its amazing 'click' mechanism allows it to launch itself several inches into the air!
- The babies, called wireworms, live underground for years munching on plant roots!
- This beetle has special bristles on its body that help it grip surfaces tightly!

## Special abilities

- **Escape Click:** Prosternon bombycinum can snap its body loudly to flip itself upright and startle predators.
- **Quick Getaway:** Prosternon bombycinum has strong wings that help it fly swiftly away from danger or find mates.
- **Feigning Death:** Prosternon bombycinum can play dead by staying perfectly still, which helps it avoid hungry predators.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 18-35 mm
- **Size:** 9-14 mm
- **Lifespan:** 30-90 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

Adults sip nectar and sap, while the larvae feast on underground plant roots.

- **Age differences:** Larvae (wireworms) primarily eat plant roots and seeds underground, while adults consume pollen, nectar, and tree sap.
- **Primary Foods:** pollen, nectar, tree sap, plant roots, seeds
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — Adult beetles and larvae are a food source.
- **Eaten by:** [Common Shrew](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-shrew) (*Sorex araneus*) — Small mammals prey on adult beetles.
- **Eats:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — Larvae feed on the roots of various grasses.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [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.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [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)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch insects unless a grown-up says it's okay.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Prosternon bombycinum?

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 Prosternon bombycinum's wingspan?

18-35 mm

### How big is Prosternon bombycinum?

9-14 mm

### How long does Prosternon bombycinum live?

30-90 days

### What does Prosternon bombycinum eat?

Adults sip nectar and sap, while the larvae feast on underground plant roots.

### Where is Prosternon bombycinum usually found?

Forests

### How does Prosternon bombycinum hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Prosternon bombycinum have?

6

## 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*)

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Source: [Prosternon bombycinum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/prosternon-bombycinum)