Melanotus communis is a species of click beetle. The adult beetle is reddish-brown in color, and is about 13 millimetres (0.51 in) long. The egg is white in color, and is about 0.3 mm (0.012 in) long. The larva is a short-legged wireworm. It is a pale yellow to reddish-brown in color, and is 21–25 mm (0.83–0.98 in) long when mature. The pupa is white in color, and is about the same size as an adult.