Eyed click beetle

Description:

This click beetle was an inch or so in length. It was mostly black with some off white coloring and markings. It had two black eyespots with white rings around each spot.

Habitat:

Can be found in decaying logs, tree trunks, or tree stumps. According to the listed reference there are currently six species of eyed elaters in North America. Prior to emerging as click beetles they are wireworms living underground consuming dead and living matter.

Notes:

Interesting fact: click beetles can cause major damage to crops. They often recover from used pesticides to continue living and eating root matter and the larvae of other species. They also have very strong jaws. One of my students called me over to see this interesting find. I was taking photos for documentation when suddenly this beetle went into flight mode. We were excited to get an in motion photo.