I was walking to my front door and saw a big beetle on this statue. Took some photos and learned it was an eastern eyed click beetle (Alaus oculatus). Apparently, their larvae eat other click beetle larvae that feed on decaying wood, which makes sense considering the state of that bed's wood. Thanks to this beetle for protecting the flower bed.
by A_Lountvink
6 Comments
Eyed Elater, a large 2 to 3 inch type of ‘click beetle’. If you flip it on it’s back it will bend and then snap itself up to a foot into the air with an audible click, hopefully to fall back down right side up. There are smaller brown ones that can do the same trick.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Click_beetle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Click_beetle)
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaus)
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaus_oculatus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaus_oculatus)
Oh I LOVE that Eastern eyed click beetle!!!
Love these guys they’re so cute
I was overjoyed, upon finding and identifying one of these in my garden years ago, to find it has the best common name I’ve ever heard: Eyed Elater. Incredible.
Omg what a dapper little fella!
Found one on a punky Basswood in my local park last year, very cute