Home⇛DAVAO RESEARCH JOURNAL⇛vol. 16 no. 4 (2025)

Diversity and Community Composition of Click Beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in Forest Patches of Iligan City, Mindanao, Philippines

Aijelyn Pancho | Eddie Mondejar | Olive Amparado | Ruben Amparado

Discipline: environmental sciences

 

Abstract:

Click beetles (Family Elateridae) are among the most diverse groups within the Elateroidea superfamily of beetles. These insects are often used as indicators of ecosystem diversity, as their presence reflects environmental health. Moreover, many beetle species also depend on forests for survival, highlighting their interconnected relationship with the ecosystem. In this context, this study surveyed click beetles in various forest patches in Iligan City using Malaise traps and active collection methods. Over six months of collection, 27 individuals representing 13 morphospecies and eight subfamilies were documented. Species richness and diversity were highest in Sikyop (H'=1.67; D'=0.76; J'=0.86), followed by Tinago (H'=1.32), while the most abundant species include Melanotus sp., Cryptalaus sp., Csikia sp., and Agrypnus species. However, most identifications remain provisional due to distinct morphological traits among taxa and require molecular confirmation. These findings offer preliminary insight into species composition and local diversity, providing baseline data that is imperative for inventory, ecological studies, and future management strategies, as well as valuable information for local communities.



References:

  1. Ali, M. P., Biswas, M., Clemente-Orta, G., Kabir, M. M. M., Datta, J., Haque, S. S., Qin, X., Landis, D. A., Kaur, P., Pittendrigh, B. R., & Hossain Howlader, M. Z. (2022). Landscape diversity influences the arthropod species diversity in the rice field. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.740287
  2. Anichtchenko, A., & Wiesner, J. (2024). Tiger beetles of the genus Tricondyla Latreille, 1822 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) of the Philippines, with some considerations of the taxonomy of the genus. Zootaxa, 5397(3), 351–376. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5397.3.3
  3. Bârdan, M. V., Tălmaciu, N., Manole, L., Mitrea, I., Prisecariu, L. A., & Talmaciu, M. (2024). Observations on the coleopteran fauna in the forest ecosystem located in the Nechit area, Neamț County. Annals of the University of Craiova, Biology, Horticulture, Food Products Processing Technology, Environmental Engineering.
  4. Berba, C. M. P., & Matias, A. M. A. (2022). State of biodiversity documentation in the Philippines: Metadata gaps, taxonomic biases, and spatial biases in the DNA barcode data of animal and plant taxa in the context of species occurrence data. PeerJ, 10, e13146. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13146
  5. Bi, W.-X., He, J.-W., Chen, C.-C., Kundrata, R., & Li, X.-Y. (2019). Sinopyrophorinae, a new subfamily of Elateridae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea) with the first record of a luminous click beetle in Asia and evidence for multiple origins of bioluminescence in Elateridae. ZooKeys, 864, 79–97. https://doi.org/10.3897/ZOOKEYS.864.26689
  6. Borror, D. J., & DeLong, D. M. (2005). Introduction to the study of insects (7th ed.). Brooks/Cole.
  7. Chang, H., & Ren, D. (2010). New fossil beetles of the family Elateridae from the Jehol Biota of China (Coleoptera: Polyphaga). Acta Geologica Sinica-English Edition, 82(2), 236–243. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1755-6724.2008.TB00573.X
  8. Chimeno, C., Schmidt, S., Cancian de Araujo, B., Perez, K., von Rintelen, T., Schmidt, O., Hamid, H., Narakusumo, R. P., & Baake, M. (2023). Abundant, diverse, unknown: Extreme species richness and turnover despite drastic undersampling in two closely placed tropical Malaise traps. PLOS ONE, 18. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290173
  9. Chowdhury, S., Dubey, V., Choudhury, S., Das, A., Jeengar, D., Sujatha, B., Kumar, G. A., Kumar, N., Semwal, A., & Kumar, V. (2023). Insects as bioindicator: A hidden gem for environmental monitoring. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1146052
  10. City Government of Iligan. (2022). Official website of the City Government of Iligan. Retrieved March 16, 2025, from https://www.iligan.gov.ph
  11. Fan, J. (2008). Cryptalaus berus (Coleoptera: Elateridae): An important predator of Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), the vector of pine wilt disease in China. Journal of Biological Control.
  12. Freitag, H., Jäch, M., & Wewalka, G. (2016). Diversity of aquatic and riparian Coleoptera of the Philippines: Checklist, state of knowledge, priorities for future research and conservation. Aquatic Insects, 37(3), 177–213. https://doi.org/10.1080/01650424.2016.1210814
  13. Ghahari, H., Packova, G., Platia, G., & Kundrata, R. (2024). Updates and additions to the annotated checklist of click-beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) of Iran. Zootaxa. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5432.2.5
  14. Gleason, J. M. (2022). Hidden diversity – DNA metabarcoding reveals hyper-diverse benthic invertebrate communities. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.28.481642
  15. Gülsoy, S., & Özkan, K. (2019). Importance of biodiversity from the ecological standpoint and some diversity indexes. 1, 168–178. https://doi.org/10.18182/TJF.77505
  16. Guseva, O. G., Shpanev, A. M., & Koval, A. G. (2020). Click beetles (Coleoptera, Elateridae) under the conditions of anthropogenic landscape transformation. Russian Journal of Ecology, 51(3), 266–274. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1067413620030091
  17. Hoffmannova, J., & Kundrata, R. (2022). Diversity of the paedomorphic snail-eating click-beetle genus Malacogaster Bassi, 1834 (Elateridae: Agrypninae: Drilini) in the Mediterranean. Biology, 11(10), 1503. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11101503
  18. Huang, W., Zhu, P., Wen, M., Li, Z., Yang, X., Huang, H., Jia, T., Huang, C., & Song, F. (2023). Comparative and phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial genomes in Elateridae (Coleoptera: Elateroidea). Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, e22058. https://doi.org/10.1002/arch.22058
  19. Hume, D., Etzler, F. E., Johnson, P. J., & Hammond, H. E. J. (2024). Matrix-based key to the click beetle genera of Canada and USA with a summary of habitat use (Coleoptera, Elateridae). ZooKeys. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1200.119315
  20. Iamandei, M., & Rujescu, C. (2023). Diversity of click beetle associated with maize and sunflower crops from South and Southeastern Romania. Romanian Agricultural Research, 40, 621–631. https://doi.org/10.59665/rar4058
  21. Joshi, J., & Wang-Pruski, G. (2024). De novo transcriptome assembly and differential gene expression analysis in different developmental stages of Agriotes sputator (click beetle). Dental Science Reports, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-74495-1
  22. Kasmiatun, K., Nazarreta, R., Hidayat, P., & Buchori, D. (2020). Diversity and species composition of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) at different land-use types in Harapan rainforest landscape, Jambi, Indonesia. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 468(1), 012015. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/468/1/012015
  23. Koval, A. G., & Guseva, O. G. (2019). Click beetles (Coleoptera, Elateridae) in agrolandscapes of northwestern Russia. Entomological Review, 99(6), 744–752. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0013873819060046
  24. Kundrata, R., & Bock, L. (2011). The phylogeny and limits of Elateridae (Insecta, Coleoptera): Is there a common tendency of click beetles to soft-bodiedness and neoteny? Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.2011.00476.x
  25. Kundrata, R., Bukejs, A., & Prosvirov, A. (2020). X-ray micro-computed tomography reveals a unique morphology in a new click-beetle (Coleoptera, Elateridae) from the Eocene Baltic amber. Scientific Reports, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76908-3
  26. Kusy, D., Motyka, M., & Bocak, L. (2020). Click beetle mitogenomics with the definition of a new subfamily Hapatesinae from Australasia (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Insects, 12(1), 17.
  27. Lemke, E., van Herk, W. G., Singleton, K., Saguez, J., Fowler, G., Pepper, D. A., Furtado, K., & Gries, G. (2023). Mixed sex pheromone lures for combined captures of Agriotes and Limonius pest click beetles in North America. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7957907
  28. Leung, J. P. S., Cory, J. S., Kabaluk, J. T., & Janmaat, A. F. (2020). Effect of collection month, visible light, and air movement on the attraction of male Agriotes obscurus L. (Coleoptera: Elateridae) click beetles to female sex pheromone. Insects, 11(11), 729.
  29. Liu, D., & Zhang, X. (2022). Occurrence prediction of pine wilt disease based on CA–Markov model. Forests, 13(10), 1736. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13101736
  30. Medhi, J., Dutta, J., & Kalita, M. C. (2020). Biomonitoring ecosystem: Modelling relationship with arthropods. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/INTECHOPEN.94313
  31. Motyka, M., Kusy, D., Arias, E. T., & Bocak, L. (2025). Phylogenomics-based clickbeetle classification tackles multiple origins of phenotypic modifications. Systematic Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.70017
  32. N’Tsoukpoe, K. E. (2023). Development of novel integrated pest management strategies against wireworms (Agriotes spp.) in French corn. https://doi.org/10.23889/suthesis.62670
  33. Nakládal, O., Remeš, J., Brestovanská, T., & Zumr, V. (2022). Diversity of click beetles in managed nonnative coniferous and native beech stands: Consequences of changes in the structural and species composition of tree stands in Central Europe. Forest Ecosystems, 9, 100057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fecs.2022.100057
  34. Nasserzadeh, H., Platia, G., & Serri, S. (2023). Click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) of Khuzestan province (Iran): With three new species, Craspedostethus izehensis sp. n., Dicronychus khuzestanicus sp. n. and Gurjevelater catei sp. n. Zootaxa. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5346.2.1
  35. Park, Y., Jang, T., Kim, J.-K., Kim, S.-K., Kim, I.-K., Kim, C.-J., & Takami, Y. (2021). Temporal variation dominates in local carabid beetle communities in Korean mountains. Insects, 12(11), 1019. https://doi.org/10.3390/INSECTS12111019
  36. Pik, A. J., Oliver, I. A. N., & Beattie, A. J. (1999). Taxonomic sufficiency in ecological studies of terrestrial invertebrates. Australian Journal of Ecology, 24(5), 555–562.
  37. Poggi, S., Le Cointe, R., Lehmhus, J., Plantegenest, M., & Furlan, L. (2021). Alternative strategies for controlling wireworms in field crops: A review. Agriculture, 11(5), 436. https://doi.org/10.3390/AGRICULTURE11050436
  38. Ramesha, N. M., Mahanta, D. K., Sujatha, G. S., Hazarika, S., Parmar, S. C., Bala, B., Panigrahi, C. K., Warghat, A. N., & Sai Teja, K. S. (2024). Understanding insect behavior and physiology for effective pest management. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology, 45(14), 312–323. https://doi.org/10.56557/upjoz/2024/v45i144208
  39. Rappa, N. J., Staab, M., Frey, J., Winiger, N., & Klein, A. (2022). Multiple forest structural elements are needed to promote beetle biomass, diversity and abundance. Forest Ecosystems, 9, 100056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fecs.2022.100056
  40. Ruan, Y., Zhang, M., Kundrata, R., Qiu, L., Ge, S. Q., Yang, X., Chen, X.-Q., & Jiang, S. (2022). Functional morphology of the thorax of the click beetle Campsosternus auratus (Coleoptera, Elateridae), with an emphasis on its jumping mechanism. Insects, 13(3), 248. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13030248
  41. Sangwan, S., Kumar, M., Lamba, R., Singh, S., Kumari, A., & Wati, L. (2024). Bioindicators. 311–337. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003408352-21
  42. Sharma, R. P., Boruah, A., Khan, A., Thilagam, P., Sivakumar, S., Dhapola, P., & Singh, B. veer. (2023). Exploring the significance of insects in ecosystems: A comprehensive examination of entomological studies. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2023/v13i113276
  43. Song, N., Lin, X., & Zhao, T. (2023). Description of the three complete mitochondrial genomes of click beetles (Coleoptera, Elateridae) with phylogenetic implications. Taxonomy, 3(2), 204–220. https://doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy3020015
  44. Spina, P., Parisi, F., Antonucci, S., Garfì, V., Marchetti, M., & Santopuoli, G. (2023). Tree-related microhabitat diversity as a proxy for the conservation of beetle communities in managed forests of Fagus sylvatica. https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/cpad034
  45. Stork, N. E., Boyle, M. J., Wardhaugh, C., & Beaver, R. A. (2024). What do we know about the missing millions of Earth’s insect species and can we improve their collection: Evidence from bark beetles? bioRxiv.
  46. van Herk, W. G. (2023). Disorientation of male Agriotes click beetles in the presence of granulate pheromones—a case for mating disruption. Arthropod-Plant Interactions. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-023-09988-3
  47. Van Herk, W., Vernon, R., Labun, T., Sevcik, M., & Schwinghamer, T. (2021). Distribution of pest wireworm (Coleoptera: Elateridae) species in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba (Canada). Environmental Entomology, 50(3), 663–672. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvab006
  48. Verma, R. C., Waseem, M. A., Sharma, N., Bharathi, K., Singh, S. A., Pandey, S., & Singh, B. veer. (2023). The role of insects in ecosystems, an in-depth review of entomological research. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2023/v13i103110
  49. Welti, E. A. R., Zajicek, P., Ayasse, M., Bornholdt, T., Buse, J., Dziock, F., Engelmann, R. A., Englmeier, J., Fellendorf, M., Förschler, M. I., Frenzel, M., Fricke, U., Ganuza, C., Hippke, M., Hoenselaar, G., Kaus-Thiel, A., Mandery, K., Marten, A., Monaghan, M. T., … Haase, P. (2021). Climate, latitude, and land cover predict flying insect biomass across a German malaise trap network. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.02.429363
  50. Zhang, L., Mathur, T., Wissa, A., & Alleyne, M. (2023). Launching engineered prototypes to better understand the factors that influence click beetle jump capacity. 681–686. https://doi.org/10.1109/ccta54093.2023.10252639

Tools


Copyright © 2026  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic