Lined Click Beetle

Agriotes lineatus adult beetles are typically 7.5–11 millimetres (0.30–0.43 in) in length. Most often, the body is brownish black in color. The species is named after the longitudinal stripes on its elytra that are alternating brown-black and lighter brown. These stripes are shared by a number of Agriotes species, but are especially prominent in A. lineatus. The pronotum is domed and usually as long as or slightly longer than wide, in contrast to the very similar Agriotes proximus, where the pronotum is usually slightly wider than long. The antennae and the parts of the legs distad from the tibiae are usually lighter brown. Identification by molecular method has also been studied and is usually feasible. The most similar species to Agriotes lineatus is Agriotes proximus, also found in southern Europe and some neighboring parts of western Asia. Both species show minor morphological differences in the adult stage, but are attracted to the same pheromone, are indistinguishable in the larval stages, and no significant differences in their DNA structure has been detected. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene of both species show >99% similarity. Apart from differences in the shape of the pronotum (see previous paragraph), the male aedeagus of A. lineatus is shorter and the hooks on the parameres are less sharp. In A. …

Agriotes lineatus was originally described from Germany. The type localities of the 3 species that are now regarded as synonyms of this species (see the taxobox above) are all in Sweden. A. lineatus is native and common in most parts of Europe and is also found in parts of western Asia and the Near East. In Europe, it seems to be only absent in the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. In western Asia, A. lineatus has been reported from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran (northern parts), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkmenistan and Turkey. The native distribution of A. lineatus further east is not clear and might include parts of Siberia, Mongolia and China. For example, A. lineatus has been recorded from China by native authors. However, these records were regarded as doubtful during a thorough review of the Agriotes species in China. It is believed that Agriotes lineatus was accidentally introduced into western Canada around 1900 and has spread to neighboring parts of the U.S. In western Canada, it is now found on Vancouver Island and on the mainland in the southern parts of British Columbia. Further, it has been recorded from western parts In Washington State (U.S.A.) and might be also present in parts of Oregon. …