These amazing-looking beetles occur throughout the American South, where there are several different species. A Beetle that Knows how to Click 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. This species grow up to two inches in length and have a more dramatic appearance than most of the other click beetle species. Many of these larvae are notorious pests that consume the roots of cereal crops, causing serious damage. The adults can be 1¾ inches long. Range . The beetle Alaus oculatus is commonly referred to as the Big Eyed Click Beetle or Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. 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. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office. Pupation is in unlined cell underground or in rotting wood. The eyed click beetle, or eyed elater, is common in the eastern part of our country. The Eastern Eyed Click Beetle is mostly encountered in all the American states east of the Great Plains and up north into Canada. Eggs are laid in soil. It lives in deciduous forests, where the larvae grow in decaying logs, preying on longhorn beetle grubs. e. NA (QC-FL to ON-ND-CO ... larvae feed on grubs of wood-boring beetles. Larvae predators of beetle larvae in decaying wood, especially hardwoods. "Wireworm" is the name given to most larvae of the very large click beetle family. Unlike its many cousins, the Eyed Elater larva is ferocious meat-eater that dines on many other noxious larvae, including those of wood-boring beetles, flies, and other undesirables. The eyespots on the pronotum make predators hesitate to attack. Everything else copyright © 2003-2020 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted. Eyed Elater, Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. 20-45 mm. Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf and Snout Beetles), Elateroidea (Click, Firefly and Soldier Beetles), Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga), Click, Firefly and Soldier Beetles (Elateroidea), University of Florida: Featured Creatures. Life Cycle . Alaus oculatus (Linnaeus 1756) Size . Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. This sort of data can be useful in seeing concentrations of a particular species over the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a … Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information. Larvae predators of beetle larvae in decaying wood, especially hardwoods. Eastern–Eyed Click Beetles are larger and lesser know than the common Click Beetle that we see flipping around on our floors. The big eye spots on the back of the insect's thorax are, of course, not really eyes at all -- they're just markings that are designed to alarm and deter potential predators. We find an Eastern Eyed Click Beetle in a rotten log and take a look at where this "eyed" beetle gets its name and what makes a click beetle click. Eyed Click Beetle, Alaus Oculatus . Explanation of Names . Adults may take plant juices; larvae feed on grubs of wood-boring beetles. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. 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). Eggs are laid in soil.