Cedar Creek
Ecosystem Science Reserve

Insects of Cedar Creek

Order COLEOPTERA

Family ELATERIDAE

(Click Beetles)

(Table of Species)

More than 35 species of Click Beetles (885 NA spp; 115+ MN spp) have been collected at CCESR, but much more collecting and taxonomic work remains to be done with this Family. Larvae of many are called Wireworms and feed on roots in the soil. A few are predaceous under bark or feed on live plant tissue above ground. Most occur in woodlands. This family has given me difficulties and demands the attention of a specialist. Only a tentative listing will be provided here.

Lacon (3 spp--brevicornis, obtectus, aurorata) are large species that occur under back in woodland as does the still Larger Alaus oculatus. Members of the genus Limonius (3+spp--aurifer, basillaris, griseus) are fairly common. The first two occur on shrubbery in woodland; L. griseus in taken in late spring old field sweeps. Two other genera routinely collected in small numbers in old fields are Cardiophorus (2 spp--convexulus, gagates) and Conoderus (2 spp incl vespertinus).
Most of the remaining species appear to be associated with woodland vegetation. They include: Agriotes (3+spp incl stabilis), Ampedus (6+ spp--manipularis, nigricollis, pullus, rubricus, sanguinipennis, subtilis??), Athous sp, Ctenicera (7+spp--hieroglyphica, mediana, nebraskensis, pygmaea, pyrrhos, spinosa, sulcicollis??), Dalopius sp, Melanactes piceus, Melanotus (2 spp incl fissilis), Oedosththus? sp, Pityobius bilingsii and Oxygonus? sp.

webmaster@cedarcreek.umn.edu Last updated May, 2000