Prosternon tessellatum

Prosternon tessellatum, the chequered click beetle, is a species of click beetle belonging to the family Elateridae.

Distribution
This species is widespread in Europe, in Asia, and in the Nearctic realm.

Habitat
These beetles inhabit mountain areas, coniferous forests, dry forest edges and forest meadows, but also heathland, moors, dunes and gardens.



Description
Prosternon tessellatum can reach a body length of approximately 10 - 12 mm. These beetles have a hairiness blackish-brown pronotum and striped elytra, with paler silk-hairy gray-yellow to gold-shining stains.

They are rather similar to Agrypnus murinus, that is smaller.

Biology
Adults can be found from May to early August, feeding on flowers, shrubs and low vegetation.

Larvae of this species live in tree stumps of conifers and in humus. They are predators and destroy cocoons of pine-tree lappet (Dendrolimus pini) and pine sawfly (Neodiprion).