Selatosomus cruciatus (Linnaeus, 1758)[]
Arthropods (Arthropoda)----Insects (Insecta)-----Beetles (Coleoptera)-----Polyphaga----Click, soldier, fireflies and allies (Elateroidea)-----Click beetles (Elateridae)------Selatosomus-----S. cruciatus
Click beetles seem to like landing on you in the evening. This and the Fire and ash click beetle landed on me around 5:00pm. The specimens in Alberta, like the one I found, did not have the typical colouring, normally there is a horizontal bar along the middle of the wing shields, hence crucifix and the black along the edge is seperated above this cross. (Diagram there to show the normal markings) This probably has something to do with locality variation. This species used to be known as Ctenichera cruciatus. The Crucifix click beetle was introduced here from Europe. This species is listed as "uncommon" in North America.
Size
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Adult length about 11mm-14mm.
20th June, 2008
20th June, 2008
Links[]
There is another picture showing the ,seemingly typical, Alberta variation (3 of 5) at: Talk about wildlife
A photo of a black/ Melanic form here: Bug Guide
A diagram made to show the normal markings of the Crucifix click beetle.