Athous haemorrhoidalis ( Fabricius, 1801) commonly named “Click Beetle”
Family: Elateridae.
10 to 15mm (males are smaller than females)
March to August. (Most active in July unlike other click beetles being more active mainly in the spring months.
A Widespread and common beetle and occurs throughout the Palaearctic and Asian regions. Also widespread across the United Kingdom and as far north as the Scottish Highlands (up to approximately 500m, very rarely up to 600m) and is one of the commonest species of Beetles found.
Habitat: Mainly found in Hedgerows, Forests and woodland edges, moorland, grasslands and dunes, most wetland habitats, parks and gardens. Also found on farmland, where they can become a pest to commercial agriculture when found in large numbers, such as turf growing, crops of potatoes, tomatoes and all kinds of cereals.
The Click beetle takes two years to develop and pupate during the summer months. The female lays her eggs in late spring in open well vegetation soils where the larvae will develop, preying on other insects. They are well known to prey on the Winter moth, (Operophtera brumata), will also will feed on plant roots.
The adult beetle will mainly feed on pollen and are very strong fliers, they make a clicking noise when taking off and if handled.
They are mainly preyed upon by smaller birds, especially from the tit family.