Click Beetle
A nocturnal insect in the upper Kerio Valley, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Kenya. Dec. 2014. Length about 18mm.
The elytra (wing covers) and exoskeleton of most click beetles are very hard and resistant to injury. The posterior corners of the pronotum are typically extended into a sharp point. The most familiar character is the ability to click and do a somersault after the insect finds itself lying on its dorsum. The grubs of click beetles are often called wireworms and can be found in the soil or within rotting logs. With over 9000 species, identification to species requires a lot of expertise. Most species are much smaller than the one shown here.