
Community identification
Eastern Eyed Click Beetle
Alaus oculatus
- Order & Family
- Order: Coleoptera; Family: Elateridae
- Size
- 25–45 mm (1.0–1.8 inches)
Natural Habitat
Deciduous and mixed forests with abundance of rotting wood
Diet & Feeding
Larvae (known as wireworms) are predatory, eating wood-boring larvae; adults eat nectar or plant juices.
Behavior Patterns
Features large false eyespots on the pronotum to deter predators. Famous for their snapping mechanism that allows them to flip themselves into the air if they end up on their backs.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; beneficial to the ecosystem as they help control populations of wood-boring insects.