Elateridae ...

Athous haemorrhoidalis (Fabricius, 1801)

The Elateridae, or Click Beetles as they are commonly known, are a family of beetles currently comprising 73 species in the British Isles. They are identifiable by their elongated appearance with heads somewhat sunken into the thorax, sharp posterior angles on the pronotum and often toothed or pectinate antennae (the segments are longer on one side giving a comb like appearance). They are named for their ability to flip into the air in order to right themselves when upside down - it is this mechanism that produces the familiar ‘click’. Most species are somewhat uniformly brown or black in appearance, some with a metallic sheen and often a fine covering of silver-grey hairs, though some species are more brightly coloured. Sizes range from 3-4mm up to around 20mm.

Occurring in a wide range of habitats, A. haemorrhoidalis is one of the most frequent spring Elaterids in Britain.

More at: www.elateridae.co.uk