Big Bug

[Bibbyman]

This bug is really bugging me.  We've seen a number of them around the loglot the last couple of weeks. :-/



Anyone know what it is?  

This picture is the best I've got but you got nothing to judge the size.  It's over an inch long and about a half inch wide.  The big "eyes" you see are spots on it's body.  Its head is hardly visible and no bigger than a BB.  It can fly and has wings under the hard shell on it's back half.  It's mostly silver or or white and black.

[Don P]

A click beetle? Try touching his back. Don't think they are bad guys.

[Tom]

The adult is harmless and feeds on nector.  Children and I like to play with them .  It makes a long sawing day shorter.

The Larvae are Wire Worms.  The orange(ish) colored hard skinned worm you see in rotted wood or just under the bark of a log that has been down a pretty good while.  I've seen them in compost piles.

The book indicates a real problem with corn.
They are responsible for root damage in many plants.

[Jeff B]

Thanks Bibbyman! We had one too and I did not get a pic. None of the guys at the mill had seen one before. Ours scared the snot out of me when it "snapped" in my hand. I looked all over the internet and could not find one. I should have known to come here first!