Stats

Lifespan: 2-6 yrs
Size: Small
Diet: Herbivore
Activity: Nocturnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Temperate forest
Range: Worldwide
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Armor
Status: Uncommon

About

This click beetle lives in rotting logs and soil across the northern hemisphere. It snaps its thorax to launch itself into the air when flipped on its back.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2.
juvenile
An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3.
subadult
A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4.
adult
Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Elateridae
Genus: Melanotus