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Athous haemorrhoidalis

This elongated beetle has a dark brown thorax and a brown, ridged back. On close inspection its antennae appear toothed. 

Agriotes lineatus

Adults are bullet-shaped and their wing cases (elytra) appear lined. They are black or brown all over. 

When threatened, attacked or overturned, these beetles can flick themselves into the air emitting an audible click – hence their name. A click beetle does this by flexing the joint between its thorax and abdomen; the tension increases until the peg slips, catapulting the insect into the air. The beetle may not always land on its feet, so will perform this feat several times until it does. Occasionally click beetles jump as high as 30 cm.

Click beetle larvae are the notorious wireworms despised by gardeners. They are about 25 mm long with shiny, yellow-orange bodies. They spend up to four years underground munching through plant roots and stem bases until pupating and emerging as adult click beetles. They can ruin potato and root crops.

Aplotarsus incanus

Member of the Click beetle family.
Length: 7 to 10.5 mm. A rather grey looking, slightly hairy click beetle.

Lagria hirta can reach a length of 7–8 millimetres (0.28–0.31 in). These beetles have a soft body and a head and thorax brown or black. The relatively elongated elytra are yellowish-brown and covered by dense fine light hairs. The rest of the body is also hairy, but they are less clearly visible. Antennae, underside of body and legs are black. The eyes are remarkably large and round.

Varied Carpet Beetle - Anthrenus verbasci

Adults are 2 to 3 mm long and have a mottled pattern of pale beige and darker blackish markings, although both patterning and range of colours vary.

This small but colourful beetle can be a serious household pest. Its larvae, known as 'woolly bears' feed on natural fibres including carpets and clothing. Away from humans, the adult beetles often lay eggs in bird nests but they commonly get into houses and lay eggs under carpets or in cupboards. The larvae can take up to three years to develop into adults. Amongst other favoured larval foods are dead insects and spiders.

 

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