Superfamily Elateroidea - Click Beetle, Lycid Beetles and Soldier Beetles

This page contains pictures and information about Click Beetle, Lycid Beetles and Soldier Beetles in Superfamily Elateroidea that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia



Beetles, order Coleoptera, is the largest and most diverse order of insects. All beetles have hard forewings, called elytra, which do not do much help in flying but cover the membranous hind wings and protect the abdomen. Some beetles do not fly but some others fly very fast. When flying the hind wings extended to the fright position. The forewings, or elytra, are lift up vertically or in side way.


Lycid Larvae

The beetles in the Superfamily Elateroidea are either brown to dark brown or bright in colour. They are from small to large in size. Their body shape is usually narrow and parallel-sided. They are complete metamorphosis. The adults are usually feed on nectar and pollen. Some are feed on plants leave. Larva may be found underground or under the bark of living trees.

Family Eucnemidae - False Click Beetles
Beetles in this family look like the Click Beetle but may or may not have the click mechanism. Their body is elongated and slightly flattened, from small to medium size. The eyes are usually large with the antennae are inserted some distance from the eyes.


Family Elateridae - Click Beetles
This is a large family. Beetles in this family are elongated form, with acute hind angles on prothorax and a clicking mechanism enabling them to jump by sudden movement of prothorax and hind body.


FAMILY LYCIDAE - Lycid Beetles
Lycid Beetles are elongated beetles and may be found on flowers or on plant surfaces. Some species adults are nectar-feeders, some are not feed at all. Their head is usually triangular in shape. Antennae are medium long and thick. Larvae can be found under bark or in leaf litter.


Family CANTHARIDAE - Soldier Beetles
Beetles in this family are usually small in size, brown and yellow in colour. Adults bodies are soft, flat and long. Their antenna are filiform. They are abundant on flowers and foliage where they feed on nectar, pollen, or other insects. Larvae of most species are carnivorous, a few species feed on plants.

Reference:
1. A Bit About Beetles In Brisbane - Geoff Monteith, Save Our Waterways Now, 2006.
2. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, p 636.
3. A guide to the Genera of Beetles of South Australia Part.4 - Matthews, E.G. 1987-2002.
4. A Guide to the Beetles of Australia - George Hangay and Paul Zborowski, CSIRO PUBLISHING April 2010.
5. Northern Territory Insects, A Comprehensive Guide CD - Graham Brown, 2009.
6. ELATEROIDEA - Australian Biological Resources Study, Australian Faunal Directory.