Click!

The familiar form of a click beetle.

There is an astonishing variety of beetles in the world.  At over 300,000 species they represent the most numerous and diverse group of organisms anywhere on the planet.  Click beetles represent one of many groups within the Coleoptera (the insect order beetles belong to).  There are approximately 1000 species of click beetles in North America alone; a quarter of those can be found in the Pacific Northwest (Merrill A. Peterson's book Pacific Northwest Insects).  I have personally found them on all my travels throughout BC, Washington, Oregon, and Alberta.

Click beetles have an apt name.  If you flip one over on its back and wait a moment a surprising thing happens.  It flexes its body between the thorax and abdomen and then with an audible "click" they suddenly flip up into the air and right themselves.  This maneuver reminiscent of a Cirque do Solet act is soon repeated if the initial attempt is not successful.  They are mostly herbivorous and are not a threat to your person, so you can pick them up and watch this performance in the palm of your hand.

They are typically present in the late spring and early summer.  As most beetles can, these fly and can be caught in mid-air.  I once had a giant two-eyed click beetle fly into me.  They are usually found on the ground though commonly on dry rocks, sand, or concrete, which is exactly where this one was photographed.  I suppose the reason for finding them here is because they stand out more than when they are on or under vegetation.

I admit to flipping more than my fair share of click beetles onto their backs for the sole purpose of watching in fascination as they expertly right themselves.  I wouldn't exactly call it a hobby though, I usually only get the opportunity to do it a few times a year.  Once you figure out what a click beetle looks like you can give it a try for yourself.  Go ahead, it is very satisfying.

Thanks for reading.   www.ericspix.com   Eric Svendsen