The eyed click beetle, or eyed elater (Alaus oculatus), is common in the eastern U.S. It lives in deciduous forests, where the larvae grow in decaying logs, preying on longhorn beetle grubs. The adults can be 1¾ inches long.
The eyespots on the pronotum make predators hesitate to attack. The click beetle’s real eyes are much smaller and positioned behind the antennae, on the insect’s true head.
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This very large beetle is a forester’s friend! I gently put him/her at the base of a tree. 🙂
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Eliza Waters 
That’s a great photo, Eliza. He has such weird crooked legs!
Thanks, Audrey. I loved the antennae, too. 🙂
He must look very threatening to other animals with those big eyes on the back. An efficient pattern on the back.
I was trying to think what it would mimic, a mouse perhaps? Most birds don’t eat mice.
I think there are other creatures with such warning eyes
It is useful, I imagine. Several butterflies/moths use the strategy.
That is interesting that he eats the grubs of other beetles. We have had longhorn beetles and there was a quarantine area for a few years, but the main problem here is the bark beetle which has had a huge impact on forestry here. Great photo Eliza!
Thank you, Cathy. It is a bug-eat-bug world out there! 😀
Now you can click this one on your life list. 🙂 I have yet to find one. Fine image of it, Eliza!
Thank you, Steve!
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With that expression and those legs, he looks like a relative of Gumby.
Ha, yes! 🙂
Insects are such a source of amazing beauty!
Truly, it pays to look closely!
What a gorgeous beetle. I’ve never seen one. The dark area between it’s eyes (towards it’s wings) looks like a nose. The speckles are quite dressy.
Definitely an interesting find. I think it may have come out of our drying wood in the shed. A welcome addition to our yard. 🙂
What a curious creature! I don’t think we have them in central Maine. At least I’ve never seen one. And I think I’d remember. 😉
Quite large for an insect here in New England. Glad to see that they eat long-horned beetle larva which harm trees.
Hi Eliza. Insects are fascinating. And beautiful. Well done for sharing this one
MJ
Thanks, MJ. This one was pretty unusual.
Che meraviglia i coleotteri!! E questo è davvero simpatico! Molto bello! 💛
Grazie, Elena!
Weird and wonderful Wednesday ☺️
Pretty cool bug! 😉
What a marvellous fellow, both in terms of appearance and dietary preferences!
Agreed, I was happy to find it!
Evolution is such a remarkable thing!
It surely is! 🙂
Wow! New one for me.
It was a big one, with great markings!
What a gem! Unique and beautiful, and cleans up the forest too. Delightful photo, Eliza.
Thank you, Jet. It was found by my spouse near the driveway, so I scooped it up for an ID. Glad it was a friend!
I’ve heard of these critters, but I can’t recall having seen one. Most interesting. I bet capturing one would have given me an A on my bug collection way back when, though!
They are surprisingly large and I was glad to see that they were beneficial. I love that you were a bug collector!
We had to, for class. I can still hear my dad warning me to catch them before winter set in. Did I? Uh, no, ha!
Never seen one before. I’m glad that they are beneficial. Thank you!
Thank you, Hien!
What a stunning shot!
Thank you!
Oh the patterns found in nature. So inspiring that insects have such intricacy.
How many millennia did it take for this one to evolve, I wonder? It boggles the mind!
That’s a great shot, Eliza! I’ve seen that bug, or a relative. Summer bugs!
Thank you, Tina. For our area, that was a big one. 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I am fascinated by the markings on many insects.
Wow – great image of an extraordinary beetle. How interesting to that they eat long-horned beetle grubs.
Thank you, Carol. Nature is endlessly fascinating to me!
Some women have false eyelashes; some beetles have false eyes.
Yes!
That thing looks huge! Very cool though and yes, must be relocated so it can continue doing its good job 🙂
It was big, 1.5 inches is big around these parts!
Oh, I agree. Any bug bigger than 1/2 inch is big!
🙂
Nice shot of this interesting beetle!
Thank you, Belinda!
It’s funny, isn’t it, that even though we humans know that the eyespots aren’t eyes, we can still feel like we’re being stared at! Magnificent beetle.
Thank you, Adele. Very effective adaptation!
What a capture, weird indeed🕊💕
🙂 Thanks, Stormie. Those ‘eyes’ definitely give one pause!
I can imagine🧘🏽♂️
Sounique! Thank you for sharing the detailed photo and information about them.
Thank you, Maria, my pleasure. 🙂
❤
Awww, how lovely is he?
Thanks, Jill. A fun find!
Very glad to know NOT to squoosh this guy. Very impressive specimen.
Liv
livblumer@earthlink.net
Thanks, Liv. Good to hear from you, hope you are well.
Don’t think I’ve ever seen one of these, pretty neat looking!
My first in 33 years, so they must hide well. 🙂