Pattiann Tallman, of Upper Darby, Penna., for her question:

What makes a click beetle click?

The click beetle is an acrobat. He can tumble without hurting himself. He can turn half somersaults in the air. Suppose he is walking on a leaf and you scare him. He folds up his six legs and lets go. He knows how to land safely on the hard wing cases that cover his back. He may lay quite still for a while, hoping you gill mistake him for a chip of wood.

The click beetle's next problem is to turn right side up. And for this he needs his click. This gadget is a. hard spine and groove which fit together on his underside. He slowly stretches himself until the groove and spine are slotted together.

These fixtures come together with a loud click. And lots of other things happen all at once. The shoulders are snapped back and hit the ground. The tail end is released and swings up into the air. The force takes the beetle's body up and over in the air. The swing over makes a half sOmersault.

Chances are, this will land Mr. Click beetle right side un and facing the opposite direction. His snappy turn‑over may swing him five inches up in the air, If he fails to land on his feet, he grill try and try again. Each time he will click as the hard pine and groove snap together on his underside.