Elateridae

These are called click beetles because of the sound they make when escaping predation. This is produced by a spine on the prosternum which when snapped into a notch on the mesosternum produces a click that bounces the insect into the air. This is also used to right themselves if they have landed on their back.

There are about 9300 species. Some insects in other families -Cerophytidae and Eucnemidae can also click.

They are nocturnal and eat plants. The larvae are called wireworms and take about 3 years to mature. They can be serious pests as they feed off plant roots and can travel between plants following carbon dioxide gradients.There can be millions per hectare.