Click beetle ID?

[sebastianbawn]

Found this beetle near some brambles in Bristol. It has a 'click beetle' appearance to me. Approx 15mm long!

[Jenny W]

Is indeed a 'click' - Athous sp. and at 15mm, probably haemorrhoidalis (commonest UK Athous)- but not definite.

[sebastianbawn]

Have had a haemorrhoidalis recently. Was only about 10mm but the head was very dark and shiny looking (not hairy). The contrast betwee nthe head and body was very noticeable. Do they change as they mature?

[Jenny W]

Not sure they would change as they mature but they definitely change in appearence as they lose their hairs from the elytra and pronotum - this makes them appear to change colour. You are right in that a lot of haemorrhoidalis show a distinct colour change from the pronotum to the elytra, but more so when they have lost a lot of hairs. I went for haemorrhoidalis because of the size - I think they are the biggest - I'm sure they are bigger than vittatus - their most similar species.

If you have a key for the Elateridae then you will be able to make a more accurate guess as to it's identity than me as I as yet don't have a key to them (hopefully getting one soon), I'm just going by general appearence, size, shape, shape of pronotum posterior angles, elytra - dangerous game I know!

Lets just call it an Athous sp!

[sebastianbawn]

Lol, sorry for all the questions Jenny. I just want to understand how peopl make their ID's. I can understand some, but some details (such as dorsal spines on a spider, or the colour of its hind femur) are beyond me.

Thanks for the explaination though