Beetle-clicker - a handsome man with bad habits

If you suddenly stop growing fruit in the garden or simply die for an unknown reason, it means that some pest has wound up on your land. Gardener amateurs who are faced with this problem argue that the blame for everything or Larvae of wireworms, or their parent is a beetle-click beetle. This oblong form insect has a dark brown color with a metallic sheen on the shell. The bottom of the wings has a pointed conical shape, from the side similar to the conductor's coat, which gives some refinement and elegance to representatives of this species.

The habitats of click beetles

This kind of insects lives wherever natural conditions allow it, except for places of permafrost. The most diverse species of such an insect, as a beetle-click beetle, prevail in South America, Africa, tropical places. Depending on the place of their residence, the color changes and the uncomplicated pattern on the elytra, accompanied by various colorful shades. In nature there are individuals of different sizes, ranging from small to very large.

Distinctive feature

The beetle has a surprising ability to jump, while producing a characteristic click of the mechanical shutter. He does this in order to turn his body into a normal position, because at the expense of short legs can lose balance. The length of adults varies from 10 to 20 mm. The insect develops slowly - from 3 to 5 years.

Stages of development of the beetle-click

Just like other representatives of the insect world, in the early spring, the beetle (female) lays white eggs (3-5 pcs.) Into cracks in the soil, under a heap of weeds or under small lumps of earth. She makes such clutches for 30 or 40 pieces. A month later, larvae appear from the testicles. Growing, they become elongated in shape and very thin. The color of the larvae is golden brown with a shiny shade. In the common people we call them wireworms because of the similarity with copper wire. Winter they prefer to spend in moderately moist and warm soil. In the autumn, when the earth freezes, they go to deeper places, and in the spring they begin to approach the surface. In summer, the garden plots become their second home for them.

Bioluminescence of click beetles

This concept indicates that some of their species are capable of emitting light. The organs of luminescence in beetles are under a thin cuticle, and they were formed with the help of large phytogenic cells filled with microscopic particles of uric acid and abundantly interwoven with nerves and tracheas. They are supplied with oxygen, which is necessary for oxidative processes. Kukuho - a representative of this type of insect, which has the greatest brightness of luminescence. It can be used as a night light, and some tribes of Indians hook this small "lamp" to their feet when they go to night hunting.

Sowing dark beetle

The sowing dark beetle clicker, the photo of which you see on the right, belongs to the order Gestochkrylye. It has a brown color with a grayish shade and reaches a size of up to 9 mm. This species lives in the mountainous parts of the western regions, as well as in the northern forest-steppe. Destroys root crops, corn and vegetable crops. Uniformly colored larvae of cylindrical form reach 28 mm.

Winter spends in the ground at a great depth, reaching 80 cm. It leaves its winter shelter at the end of May and is on the ground until the middle of June. Prefers heavy clay soil.