Elateridae (click beetles)

The click beetles (Elate­ridae) are a cosmo­politan beetle family characterized by their click mechanism, which is used to avoid predation or to right itself if lying on the back. This is done through a spine on the prosternum, which can be snapped in a corresponding notch on the mesosternum. Worldwide about 10000 species are known, thereof 150 in Germany. The adults mostly feed on leafs and flowers, whereas the larvae partially feed on plant roots (wireworms), where they can cause damage. Others are carnivorous and prey on larvae of other insects.