The Collaborative International Dictionary
spring beetle
Elater \El"a*ter\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? driver, fr. ? to drive.]
(Bot.) An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in some liverworts.
(Zo["o]l.) Any beetle of the family Elaterid[ae], having the habit, when laid on the back, of giving a sudden upward spring, by a quick movement of the articulation between the abdomen and thorax; -- called also click beetle, spring beetle, and snapping beetle.
(Zo["o]l.) The caudal spring used by Podura and related insects for leaping. See Collembola.