Click beetles

This insect gets its name from a rather unusual behaviour. When the bark or leaf it’s resting on is disturbed, it tucks its legs close to the body and drops to the ground. If the beetle lands on its back, it will bend the thorax in such a way that only the head and hard wings are in contact with the ground. This motion activates a mechanism that flips the beetle in the air while producing the characteristic clicking sound. Normally the flip should result in the insect landing back on its feet, but this does not always happen, so it will keep “clicking” until it does. The jump takes a fraction of a second, making it difficult for predators to capture the insect.

The larvae of some species feed on the roots and seeds of vegetables, grains and cotton, causing damage to agricultural crops. Some larvae are predators.