Description:
<jats:title>Significance</jats:title>
<jats:p>Click beetles are among animals that amplify mechanical power output using springs and latches to perform ultrafast movements. Studies involving these animals have been limited to observing the kinematics of the movements. Here, we study the kinematics and dynamics of the extremely fast bending maneuver performed by click beetles (i.e., the clicking motion). First, we identify the latching, loading, and release phases of the clicking motion using high-speed synchrotron X-ray imaging. Second, we discover a portion of the spring mechanism that the beetles use to store and quickly release energy. Finally, using specialized analytical methods, we characterize the damping and elastic forces that govern the release phase, which explains why the beetles can rapidly perform this click without significant damage.</jats:p>