Continuing with our beetle theme (they are exceedingly diverse with nearly 400,000 described species), we focus on Melanactes piceus. This species was described by de Geer in 1774. That is the same year he described our previous insect of the week (yes, same publication as well).

Look closely at the specimen and it looks like I coated it with shoe polish and shined it well. This insect is a member of the beetle family Elateridae (the click beetles). There are over 900 species of click beetles in North America (and over 9,300 described species worldwide).

Why the common name “click beetle?” If you find one, roll it on its back and wait. The beetle may move its head and thorax forward and latch to a spine on the abdomen. It can release the tension with “click” you can hear. This also often propels the beetle upward. With luck, it lands with its legs down and walks away. If not, it may click again to right itself.

I collected this specimen several years ago in central Illinois.