Foo - click bugs

anyone know about them? i'd seen them but didn't know what they were called until today. they're funny little buggers who walk around then go nuts like they've (literally) got a bug up their butt, flip over, then attempt to right themselves mexican jumping bean style and make a "clicking" noise in doing so, hence the name. i tried looking them up but can't get anything but "we fixed the right-click bug" type stuff. i think i've eaten a few on my commutes, so it would be interesting to find out what they are, what they eat, and if i'll die from click bug poisoning.

thx!

Toasted, are you from Australia? 'Cos i see these damn bugs in my house all the time and i know exactly what you mean but have no idea what species they are or why they do that clicking thing with their thorax.

Click beetles. Yeah I grew up with those things, many a night dozing off to sleep to the sound of one bumbling around the room, banging into walls flying then falling down, click, click, cli-click then a bit of silence, little bug BONK!, then the clicks again..... ahh childhood.

Try googling "click beetle" and see what you get, there are some as big as your little finger, the ones I know are little and brown.

Try googling "click beetle" and see what you get, there are some as big as your little finger, the ones I know are little and brown.


If you do crossword puzzles it is a clue they use alot....use the word 'elater' ;)

thanks! they can actually get as long as 4in.