Wireworm larva. LM

Wireworm larva. Light micrograph (LM) of a the head of a wire worm larva. Click beetle larvae, called wireworms, are usually saprophagous, living on dead organisms, but some species are serious agricultural pests, and others are active predators of other insect larvae. Click beetles are beetles belonging to the Family Elateridae. Click beetles have a spine attached to the underside of the prothorax that fits in to a notch in the underside of the mesothorax. The adult beetle flexes muscles so the pin presses against the notch. When the force increases the peg is released with an audible click (hence the beetle's name) and the body of the beetle thumps into the ground and flings the beetle in to the air. Magnification: x 5 when printed at 10 centimetres wide, by STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY