Elateridae
| Vernacular names | |
|---|---|
| • Deutsch: | Drahtwürmer Schnellkäfer |
| • English: | wireworms click beetles snapping beetles skipjacks click beetles |
| • Español: | gusanos de alambre elatéridos |
| • Français: | ver fil de fer taupins élatéridés |
Elateridae - (wireworms, click beetles)
This is a large family of beetles with around 10,000 species. The adults have an elongated body with a large and free articulated prothorax and usually serrate antennae. The name "click beetles" refers to their ability to leap up when lying on their back, producing a clicking sound. The larvae are elongated and worm-like. Those of the important subfamily Elaterinae have a tough skin.
Most species are phytophagous and the larvae are often destructive root feeders on pastures, cereals and root crops. E.g. they can cause considerable damage on maize and a 10% infestation rate in France corresponds to a yield loss of 500-1000 kg/ha (Saussure et al., 2015).
The larvae of some species are predators (see the page on predatory wireworms).
For more details consult one of the following:
• Traugott et al., 2015 - a review of the agricultural significance of the family
• Etzler et al., 2014 - for identification using DNA analysis
• Wikipedia - a general review of the family.
The following genera are currently entered under Elateridae:
