Size: Approximately 15mms long
Distribution: Found throughout the UK
Months seen: May to August.
Food: The larvae feed on roots and can become a pest of root crops.
Habitat: Found in hedgerows and meadows.
Special features: There are 65 different species of click beetle in the UK. They all have a special technique to escape from danger. They have a special hinge on their thorax, and by arching their body they can create a tension on the hinge, like a coiled spring. The tension can be suddenly released, and this causes the beetle to leap into the air at a speed of more than 2 metres per second! Their name comes from the "click" sound they make when this happens.