We had an exciting find at the nursery yesterday, we found an adult "Eyed Click Beetle" or Alaus oculatus. It was about 2" long and liked to fly. This particular beetle has false eyes on its back, meant to frighten away predators. We thought at first that this beetle may have been the Emerald Ash Borer, an insect that is on the top of the 'Most Wanted' list in New England. But, thankfully, it was not.
The Click Beetle has the ability to flip itself over from their back to their front, sometimes going several inches into the air. It is quite an athletic beetle! The beetle arches its body, then snaps a pointed projection on the bottom of its prothorax into a small groove on the mesothorax. This movement causes a clicking sound...giving the beetle its name!!
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