Anobiidae

The Anobiidae are a family of small, hard-bodied beetles, typically 1 to 9 mm in length. These insects feed on dry vegetable matter and include species that are pests of stored foods and tobacco. A well-known member of this family is the deathwatch beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum). This beetle bores into seasoned or dead wood, such as in old buildings and furniture.123

Deathwatch beetles are known for the ticking or clicking sound they produce, which is actually a mating call made by bumping their heads or jaws against tunnel walls. Historically, this sound was superstitiously linked to impending death, hence the beetle's name. When disturbed, anobiids typically retract their legs and feign death.23