An amazing creature. An Eyed Click Beetle (Alaus oculatus), which can be found in the eastern United States. Because of their length, reaching up to 1.75 inches, they’re a bit of a surprise to see. The “eyes” that you notice immediately are not actually its eyes, as you can see in the photo above, but are a defensive mechanism to startle predators.
The larvae of these click beetles eat the grubs of wood-boring beetles. They spend the winter as either larvae or adults, often under logs.
Every now and then I’ll see one of these fun beetles. I’ll look forward to finding some as winter turns to spring and they emerge from their hiding places.
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