Click beetle
Conoderus exsul (Sharp)
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Elateridae
Size range
- Adult beetle about 12–13 mm long, larva (wireworm) about 17 mm long
Distribution
- From Australia, also found in New Zealand
Life History
- Larvae of elaterids eat plant roots, potatoes and other insect larvae
- Adults may eat leaves, pollen and nectar
- If a beetle lands on its back, it is able to use a click mechanism between the two parts of the shell to jump up to 30 cm, thus righting itself, making an audible click
