Eastern Eyed Click Beetle
Scientific Name: Alaus oculatus
Order & Family: Coleoptera: Elateridae
Size: 1.0 to 1.8 inches (25 to 45 mm)
Natural Habitat
Deciduous forests and woodlands, often found near rotting logs or stumps.
Diet & Feeding
Adults eat nectar and plant juices; larvae (wireworms) are predatory, feeding on the larvae of wood-boring beetles.
Behavior Patterns
Features large false eye-spots to deter predators. When turned on its back, it can snap its body to jump into the air with an audible click.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; beneficial to the ecosystem as they help control populations of wood-boring pests.
Identified on: 6/27/2026