Wireworm Click Beetle - Agriotes obscurus

7 to 10 mm. This is a mid to dark brown coloured click beetle, with yellowish hairs on the elytra. The pronotum is rounded and distinctly contracted at the front.

Agriotes lineatus is similar, but the stripes along the elytra have a dark and light appearance.

Agriotes sputator is also similar, but here the pronotum is nearly parallel-sided.

Favouring meadows and grassy places.

Adults March to June

Adults move at night, feeding on the leaves of grasses. They lay eggs into the surface soil in April, May and early June. Young larvae hatch in June or July. These larvae, called Wireworms, are long lived (up to four years in this stage of development) and feed on the roots of grasses and other plants.

Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 134 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.