Species › Insects & Arthropods › Eyed Click Beetle

Eyed Click Beetle

Alaus oculatus

CommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Eyed Click Beetle (Alaus oculatus)

The Eyed Click Beetle is one of North America's most distinctive beetles, with two large, bold black-and-white false eyespots on its thorax that resemble enormous owl eyes, startling predators. It is one of the largest click beetles, reaching over 1.5 inches in length, and the click mechanism is impressively audible. Its larvae are predatory, living inside decaying hardwood logs.

Habitat
Deciduous forests with rotting logs and dead trees
Diet
Larvae: other insects in decaying wood. Adults: plant material
How common
Common

Best time to see a Eyed Click Beetle

The best time to see a Eyed Click Beetle is May–June, when about 66% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 25,467 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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