Subject: Please ID Insect
Geographic location of the bug: Powell, Ohio
Date: 06/12/2021
Time: 09:21 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: I found this on my hat On June 1. I’m on 3 acres of mixed woods – maple, black and honey locust, black walnut, lots of dead ash, some sassafras. Can you identify this for me? Thanks!
How you want your letter signed: I have no idea what you mean by that. My name is Molly.
Dear Molly,
This magnificent Click Beetle is called an Eyed Elater. What appear to be big, black eyes are actually markings on the thorax called eyespots and they are thought to fool predators into thinking the Eyed Elater is a large predator.
Thank you so much, Daniel. I did some reading, they really are fascinating!
I do appreciate your help!
Molly