Click beetles are common insects often encountered in and around homes. This article clarifies the nature of click beetles and addresses common concerns regarding their interaction with humans.
Understanding Click Beetles
Click beetles are part of the Elateridae family, characterized by their elongated, somewhat flattened bodies, which typically range in color from brown to black. Their size can vary significantly, from approximately a quarter of an inch to 2.5 inches in length. Some species, like the eyed click beetle, feature prominent eye-like spots on their thorax, an area behind their head.
These beetles are named for their unique “clicking” mechanism, a specialized spine-and-groove structure between their thorax segments. When disturbed or flipped onto their backs, they rapidly bend their body, releasing the spine from a notch with an audible click. This action propels them into the air, either to startle a potential predator or to right themselves. The click beetle life cycle includes four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Female click beetles lay their eggs in the soil, and the larval stage, known as wireworms, can last for several months to multiple years before they pupate and emerge as adult beetles.
Are They a Threat to People?
Adult click beetles are not harmful to humans. They do not bite, sting, transmit diseases, or possess venom, and their mandibles cannot break human skin. Encountering an adult click beetle indoors or outdoors poses no direct health risk to individuals or pets.
While adult click beetles are harmless, their larval stage, known as wireworms, presents a concern primarily in agricultural settings. Wireworms are hard-bodied, segmented larvae, typically brown or tan, that reside in the soil. They feed on seeds, roots, tubers, and underground stems of various crops such as corn, potatoes, and wheat. This feeding behavior can lead to crop damage, stunting plant growth, or even causing plant death, impacting agricultural yields.
Coexisting with Click Beetles
Preventing click beetles from entering homes involves sealing cracks and gaps around foundations, walls, windows, and doors with caulk or weather stripping. Repairing any holes in window and door screens also helps. To reduce their presence indoors, turn off outdoor lights at night, as click beetles are attracted to light sources. Maintaining lower humidity levels in areas like basements can also make these spaces less appealing to them. If a click beetle does find its way inside, it can be safely removed by vacuuming it up and disposing of the vacuum bag or emptying the canister outdoors.