29 MISC. PUBLICATION 318, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
Click beetles.—Click beetles are familiar to almost any person who 
has had anything to do with insects. This little elongated beetle 
has a body apparently divided into two parts only, 
the head being rather indistinct. When the insect 
is placed on its back it has the ability to flip itself 
into the air, and, after several attempts, alight 
on its feet. Click beetles vary considerably in size, 
from 14 of an inch to 2 inches. The larvae are 
called wireworms. They feed on the roots and in 
the stems of various plants. Some of these insects 
complete their life cycle in 1 year, but other 
kinds may require several years. Control is rather 
difficult. The insect pictured here belongs to the 
Ficure51.—Click order Coleoptera; its scientific name is Melanotus 
eu communis, 
Broad-necked root borer.—Among the beetles one often finds some 
with very long antennae, hence the name longhorn beetles. Most 
members of this group have elongated bodies ranging in length from 
1 to 2 inches. The adults are rather strong fliers and swift runners. 
The larvae are borers and live within the solid 
parts of trees and shrubs or beneath the bark. The 
species shown here is the broad-necked root borer 
(Prionus laticollis), a broad, robust, shiny insect 
of pitchy black, with chewing mouth parts, and 
four black wings. The adults are found crawling 
over trees during the daytime or flying during the 
evening. They do little feeding, if any; the larvae 
live inside the roots of various hardwood trees. 
These insects have complete life changes and over- _* “ 
winter in the larval stage in the roots of trees. Ficture 52.—Broad- 
They sometimes cause serious damage to trees, but peers a eS 
there is no practical control for this species. It belongs to the 
order Coleoptera. 
Flatheaded borer.—There is another group of insects that are 
fairly robust. They have a rather uniform width of body except for 
the hind third, which tapers somewhat abruptly. 
Most of these dark-bronze-, brassy-, or coppery- 
colored beetles are commonly called buprestids. 
Like all the other Coleoptera, they have chewing 
mouth parts in both the adult and larval stage. 
The larvae are wood-boring insects and feed on 
many kinds of trees. They are decidedly seg- 
mented, and their broad, flat heads are about twice 
as wide as the rest of the body. There is usually 
—% . only one brood each season. Insects of this type 
= aa have difficulty in establishing themselves in healthy 
FIGURE 53—Flat- OF vigorous growing trees, Dut following drought 
eee 2 COr weakening of the trees from other causes these 
borers do become established, and control measures 
are necessary. Clean up and burn all infested trees and branches 
during April and May. Younger trees may be protected by wrapping 
with burlap or building paper. The insect shown here is the adult 
