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Story: Beetles

Cook Strait click beetle

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Cook Strait click beetle

The body of this flightless Cook Strait click beetle (Amychus granulatus) is broad and rough. This species is found on islands in the Marlborough Sounds and Cook Strait. Click beetles are so named because they audibly pop a joint in their belly to right themselves if they fall on their back. There are more than 135 species in New Zealand.

Using this item

Natural Sciences Image Library of New Zealand

Reference: In0509Mrt

by John Marris

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How to cite this page

John Marris, Beetles – Beetles and humans, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14380/cook-strait-click-beetle (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by John Marris, published 1 March 2009.