At up to 2 inches long, it is one of the largest known "click" beetles in the family Elateridae. Alaus oculatus, commonly called the eastern eyed click beetle or eyed elater, is a species of click beetle. Despite being rather common and its large size, this was the first time that I'd come across this type of beetle in the USA or anywhere, for that matter. Alaus oculatus can reach a length of about 25–45 millimetres (1.0–1.8 in). Eastern-Eyed Click Beetle . They are not considered pests. Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images or return to the article. Nearly two inches long and found across the eastern U.S. as far west as Texas, this formally attired gray and black and white insect is one of the largest members of the Click Beetle Family (Elateridae); the huge eyespots on its pronotum make it one of the most easily identified. These are "false eyes," of course--likely an adaptation to scare off potential predators. e. NA (QC-FL to ON-ND-CO-TX) Habitat . The eyed click beetle is found in the southern U.S. as far west as Texas. The beetle accomplishes this by snapping its fingerlike spine.
The rest of the head and pronotum has a chalky appearance. Sign Up. According to bugguide.net, there are six Alaus species in North America, one, appropriately named Alaus myops. This is one of the Click Beetles known as the Eyed Elator or Big Eyed Click Beetle, Alaus oculatus. Eyed Click Beetle. This beetle gets its name from the clicking sound the overturned beetle makes when it flips itself into the air and hopefully lands upright. It is a rather large insect at almost two inches or five centimetres in length. Image courtesy of Marilyn E. from Bordentown, NJ. Eastern-Eyed Click Beetles have black bodies with grey – white speckles on the majority of their body. Adults do not eat very much and are often found on pruned trees. It is also called the eyed click beetle. Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. Click beetles get their name from the sound they make when they flip themselves upright. Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. The beetle Alaus oculatus is commonly referred to as the Big Eyed Click Beetle or Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. The click beetle has two large black 'eyespots' on its pronotum. This action creates a clicking noise which helps with their natural defense. An eastern eyed click beetle rests on a leaf in the eastern United States. Although this Eyed Click Beetle (Alaus oculatus) looks ferocious with its large, black “eyespots” (actual eyes are below antennae), it is harmless to humans.Like all members of the click beetle, or Elateridae, family, it gets its name from the sound it makes when it flips itself upright. In their youths, the BugLady’s sisters had huge (HUGE) aversions to these blameless beetles. Eastern Eyed Click Beetle A large and neat looking bug, the Eyed Click Beetle. What is the best way to fold a fitted sheet? They have an elongated body, black in colour throughout. The click beetle is also “eye catching”. They are surrounded by a thin, white ring. The Eastern Eyed Click Beetle (Alaus oculatus) is dark black in color with two large black circles outlined in white. We found the one above on another foray into Shawnee back in 2010. They are surrounded by a thin, white ring. long, reddish brown to black, and found chiefly in the Southeast U.S.; the common eyed click beetle (Alaus oculatus) is 24-45mm (0.94-1.75 in.) Forgot account? Jump to. An Eastern-Eyed Click Beetle (Alaus oculatus) on a plain green background. Image courtesy of Tait B. from eastern TN. 1 . Notes: The eyed elator, Alaus oculatus, is a very large click beetle. Email or Phone: Password: Forgot account? does not endorse extermination, Click Beetle: Chalcolepidius smaragdinus. Alaus oculatus, preserved specimen. Smaller species are about 1/4 inches long. Adults may take plant juices; larvae feed on grubs of wood-boring beetles. Ben. Don’t get deceived, though, these are not the real eyes of the beetle. Adults do not eat very much and are often found on pruned trees. The hinged joint allows the beetle to arch its back and then quickly snap the hinge, thus propelling the beetle into the air for several inches and allowing it to flip over. VIEW IMAGE. The harmless Eastern-Eyed Click Beetle's large eyespots simultaneously distract and mesmerize. The "eyes" are not really his eyes. VIEW IMAGE. Attacking anything assumes a risk, and many animals move on when they believe they may be outsized. If the scary fake eye spots don't deter a would-be predator from messing with it, the beetle … Press alt + / to open this menu. Image courtesy of Mike B. from Baltimore, MD. They are somewhat flattened and range in size and color by species. Eyed Click Beetle Alaus oculatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms: Eastern Eyed Click Beetle, Elater oculatus, Eyed Elater. This is the eastern-eyed click beetle, and it has false eye markings on its back to scare away predators. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. The click beetle is not poisonous, venomous, and does not sting. Sections of this page. Eyed Elater, Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. The click beetle’s real eyes are much smaller and positioned behind the antennae, on the insect’s true head.Close relatives of this species live to the south and west of our state. Accessibility Help. See more of Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park on Facebook. 4 . Academic Calendar; College Documentation It is posed on the leaf of an aspen, and is playing dead. Eastern Eyed Click Beetle Click beetles are elongated, parallel-sided and usually bear backward projections on the side corners of the shield behind the head (pronotum). The huge false eyespots make it readily identifiable; it is thought these startle predators into thinking they are confronting an animal much larger than it really is. The map below showcases (in blue) the states and territories of North America where the Eastern-Eyed Click Beetle may be found (but is not limited to). Eyed click beetles are pretty good-sized, nearly two inches in length. FIGURE 4. Life Cycle . This Beetle Can Withstand 40 Times More G … Mar 21, 2016 - This page details the Eastern-eyed Click Beetle including size, territorial reach and pictures. Similar Beetles: The blind click beetle (Alaus myops), so-called because all the eye-spots are missing or indistinct, is 25-38mm (1-1.5 in.) Eastern-eyed Click Beetle Pictures Below are images of the Eastern-eyed Click Beetle. Explanation of Names . The Eastern Eyed Click Beetle is a quite interesting and eye catching insect both because it is pretty large (longer than an inch) and has those beautiful pair of eyes adorning the back of its head. Log In. Find the perfect eastern eyed click beetle stock photo. Log In. Alaus oculatus. Their actual eyes are located at the base of his antennae. Eastern Eyed Click Beetle The click beetle has two large black 'eyespots' on its pronotum. Click beetles get their name from the sound they make when they flip themselves upright. No need to register, buy now! or. Create New Account. Most species are brown to black in color, although some have reddish and yellowish colors and patterns. The click beetles are the acrobats of the insect world in that if they are turned over on their back they are able to flip themselves in the air and land on their feet. Rcsm Mahavidhalay | Home; About us. Eastern-eyed Click Beetle or Eyed Elater (Alaus oculatus), Point Traverse, Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada - this click beetle's larvae are cons Eyed Click Beetle on a rock. They actually have a pretty sharp bite. Food . Meet the Eastern Eyed Click #Beetle (Alaus oculatus). Howdy, BugFans, If you look up “Icky-bug” in an insect book, it will not lead you to this beetle, nor anywhere else, for that matter. See more of Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park on Facebook . The Eyed Elater is a member of the click beetle family—its body is formation is somewhat like a spring-loaded hinge. Eastern–Eyed Click Beetles are larger and lesser know than the common Click Beetle that we see flipping around on our floors. The Eastern Eyed Click Beetle (Alaus oculatus), is about 2 inches long. Eggs are laid in soil. Larvae (wireworms) eat plants and other living things in the soil. VIEW IMAGE . Believe it or not, it’s not the eyes of the beetle that really catch people’s attention. They are there to scare off predators. Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. or. The beetle Alaus oculatus is commonly referred to as the Big Eyed Click Beetle or Eastern Eyed Click Beetle.
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