| Hemicrepidius hirtus (Herbst, 1784) |
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Scientific name: Hemicrepidius hirtus (Herbst, 1784) Common name: French name: Athous poilu Order: Coleoptera Family: Elateridae Wingspan : 13-17 mm. Biotope: Meadows, hedgerows. Geographic area: Europe, Asia Minor, Iran. Observation period : May to August. |
The Elateridae are lengthy insects with short legs and the head partly hidden under the protothorax. They are able to fall on the back and then jump from this position to escape. That's why they are commonly called click beetles or snapping beetles. Hemicrepidius hirtus has a metallic black body, shinier on the pronotum, with golden hairs on the elytra and on the pronotum. The elytra are slightly striated. The legs are black and become a bit paler next to the tip of the tarsi. They are broadened on the femora. The antennae are slightly longer than the pronotum. The articles of the antenna are triangle-shaped starting from the third article. The Elateridae of the Athous genus have not a third antennal article which is so clearly triangle-shaped. There is a possible confusion with Hemicrepidius niger. The shape of the prosternal apophysis (some kind of a point located on the underside near the fore legs) enables to make the decision. It is straight on the leg side on Hemicrepidius hirtus. This is very difficult to see in the field! Females lay 100 to 200 eggs in rotten wood or in the soil. The larvae grow under the ground where they mainly feed on roots. Their life cycle lasts from three to five years. |
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I have photographed this Hemicrepidius hirtus on a road side on a woodland edge. There is still, of course, a possible confusion with Hemicrepidius niger. |
André Bon August 2011