Approximately 1,000 species in North America, About 40 species in North America north of Mexico, About 1,700 species in North America north of Mexico, About 2,400 species in North America north of Mexico, Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants.
There are a few other families of Elateroideain which a few members have the same mechanism, but most elaterid subf… A Beetle that Knows how to Click. The eyespots on the pronotum make predators hesitate to attack. Arthropods—invertebrates with “jointed legs” — are a group of invertebrates that includes crayfish, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, and insects. [3], This species is present in Central and North America. The long, slender, black eyltra (wing coverings) are covered in white speckles. The adults can be 1¾ inches long. The eyed click beetle, or eyed elater (Alaus oculatus), is one of many species of click beetles. [4], Eggs are laid in soil. The rest of the head and pronotum has a chalky appearance. The larvae diet consists of grubs of wood-boring beetles. [1] It can be found in deciduous/mixed forests and woodlands. The pronotum exhibits a large oval patch of darker scales, framed in white, on each side - the common name of the beetle derives from this feature. It is on the ground where they feed on other wood boring insects larvae, such as the Longhorned beetle species along with Weevils. 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. Capability, Shape, Texture/Pattern, Benefits, Dangers. Alaus oculatus, commonly called the eastern eyed click beetle or eyed elater, is a species of click beetle. The adults can be 1¾ inches long. Other names include elaters, snapping beetles, spring beetles or skipjacks. Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including earthworms, slugs, snails, and arthropods. Call 1-800-392-1111 to report poaching and arson, Elateridae (click beetles) in the order Coleoptera (beetles). Elateridae or click beetles (or "typical click beetles" to distinguish them from the related families Cerophytidae and Eucnemidae) are family of beetles. Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org. Close relatives of this species live to the south and west of our state. The eyed click beetle is only one of about 1,000 species of click beetles in North America. The eyespots on the pronotum make predators hesitate to attack. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. Predators see the eyes and assume the rest of the creature is proportional in size. Eastern-eyed Click Beetle or Eyed Elater (Alaus oculatus), Point Traverse, Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada - this click beetle's larvae are cons Eggs are laid in soil. This black and white species of Click Beetle has two large black 'eyespots' on its pronotum. Attacking anything assumes a risk, and many animals move on when they believe they may be outsized. According to bugguide.net, there are six Alaus species in North America, one, appropriately named Alaus myops. It lives in deciduous forests, where the larvae grow in decaying logs, preying on longhorn beetle grubs. Being nocturnal during the warm months, they are drawn to light and can follow that light into your home. [1][2][3] The "false eyes" depicted on the pronotum are a defensive adaption designed to confuse or frighten potential predators. There may be as many as 10 million species of insects alive on earth today, and they probably constitute more than 90 percent all animal species. The eyed click beetle, or eyed elater, is common in the eastern part of our country. The eyed click beetle, or eyed elater, is common in the eastern part of our country. Like all click beetles, A. oculatus is also capable of suddenly catapulting itself out of danger by releasing the energy stored by a click mechanism, which consists of a stout spine on the prosternum and a matching groove in the mesosternum. The beetle Alaus oculatus is commonly referred to as the Big Eyed Click Beetle or Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. Larvae are predators of beetle larvae feeding in decaying wood, especially Cerambycidae. The Eastern-eyed Click Beetle has a similar-looking relative in the southwestern U.S. called the Southwestern Eyed Click Beetle, as well as cousins on the West Coast and in the Pacific Northwest. [3], "Eyed click beetle (Alaus oculatus) (Linnaeus, 1758)", "Species Alaus oculatus - Eyed Click Beetle", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alaus_oculatus&oldid=979914157, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 23 September 2020, at 14:06. [1], Their diet consists of nectar and plant juice. Their ranges may overlap at the boundaries, but it is unlikely to see species completely cross over and populate the others' regions. [1] They have an elongated body, black in colour throughout. Alaus oculatus can reach a length of about 25–45 millimetres (1.0–1.8 in). This family was defined by William Elford Leach (1790–1836) in 1815. The Eastern Eyed Click Beetle is mostly encountered in all the American states east of the Great Plains and up north into Canada. Image Credit: Marilyn E. from Bordentown, NJ, Image Credit: Katryna S. from Gainseville, FL, Image Credit: Tony V.M from Mechanicsville, MD, Image Credit: Dave R. from Southfield, MI, Updated: 9/25/2020;
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. Larvae are predators of beetle larvae feeding in decaying wood, especially Cerambycidae. Each eyespot is surrounded by a thick, white ring, making the pair very conspicuous. They are a cosmopolitan beetle family characterized by the unusual click mechanism they possess. The click beetle’s real eyes are much smaller and positioned behind the antennae, on the insect’s true head. It lives in deciduous forests, where the larvae grow in decaying logs, preying on longhorn beetle grubs. Find local MDC conservation agents, consultants, education specialists, and regional offices.