CLICK-BEETLE. A beetle of the family •lateridce, also known as elater, snapping-bug, and skip-jnek, on account of its acrobatic per formances. When disturbed these beetles curl up their legs and fall to .the ground, where they lie rigid on their backs for some moments, and then begin a series of springs into the air. accom panied by n Clicking sound. When the beetle suc ceeds in landing on its feet, it runs off. In re gard to the springing, Le Conte says: "This is effected by extending the prothorax so as to bring the prosternal spine to the anterior part of the mes()sternal cavity: then, suddenly relaxing the muscles, so that the spine descends violently into the cavity. the force given by this sudden move ment causes the base of the elytra to strike the supporting surface, and by their elasticity the whole body is propelled upward." The larv', known as wireworms. are hard. brownish-yellow, and may live several years before gaining ma turity. Most of than are found under bark and in rotten wood. but some live on the ground On the roots of grass, Indian corn. and other
grains, as well as on those of certain vegetables. When numerous enough they may do consider able damage. Fall plowing is said to be the most effective remedy against them. Of the 7000 described species of elaters 500 occur in North America. The most conspicuous click-beetle found in the United States is the eyed •elate• (.4/a us oeulat us), a grayish black beetle with two large black eye-like spots on the protho•ax; its larvae live in rotting stumps. In the tropics of America there are luminous species belonging to the genus Pyrophorn,, as the cncuyo (Pyro phurus nocti/ncus) and others.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. Dc CandeZe, Monographic des Bibliography. Dc CandeZe, Monographic des jlateridcs (4 volumes and 3 supplements, Liege, 18.57-18S1) : Le Conte, "Revision of the Elateri dm of the United States," in Transactions of Philosophical Society, vol. x. ( Philadelphia, 1853) : Horn. Papers in Transactions American Entomological Society, vol.-. xii.. xviii. (Philadelphia, 1885, '86, '011. See FIREFLY.