Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. – Genesis 1:24-25
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:31
One of the more fascinating critters I’ve seen in the insect world is the click beetle. The one pictured above is a little more than 2 inches long. Most of the ones I’ve seen are much smaller, closer to about ½ an inch in length when fully grown.
Larval stages (sometimes called wireworms) of the eyed click beetle occur in rotting logs and stumps, along with dead, standing trees. They feed mostly on decomposing wood and leaf litter. The smaller click beetle larva can damage live crops and seedlings. The adult stage beetle does not damage plants.
The large “eye-spots” on top of the thorax of the eyed click beetle are not eyes at all, but a pattern of color thought to deter predators. The speckled wing coloration is useful for camouflage to break up visual perception of the beetle’s form when it is on a log or in leaf litter.
But what I think is the coolest thing about this beetle is its ability to “click”.
By snapping segments of its thorax, this beetle makes a fairly loud clicking sound while sending a shock wave of sorts through its body. Again, this is for protection against predators. It can also use this technique when it is turned on its back and wants to right itself.
When upside down, this snapping can send the beetle several inches into the air as it flips and turns over. I remember it was always a good day on the farm when I’d find one of these beetles. I’d put the beetle upside down in the palm of my hand, then watch the beetle click itself high into the air. I would repeat this, and sometimes the beetle would fly away, or get lost in the tall grass, or other times simply quit clicking. It probably got tired of entertaining the strange creature who had picked it up!
Unless you live surrounded by concrete, you may be amazed at how much life there is near you in the outdoors. The diversity of life I’ve seen in the various places I’ve lived and travelled is, in my opinion, remarkable to say the least.
According to the Bible, the Creator of the click beetle, and everything else mentioned in the above Scriptures, wants to have a personal relationship with you. If you are not sure how to do that, please see Got God?
And if you’ve never seen a click beetle, I hope someday you will. I think it is a critter you will remember.
Hope you have a great day.