#alau

[zoe-oneesama]

A first look at the final designs for The Agrestes and Dupain-Chengs for my Angelic Layer AU! It's a special challenge to make some of the more...cartoonish? adults fit the CLAMP art style, so, look forward to that!

Ko-fi | Patreon

[platycryptus]

Eyed Elaters (Alaus)

eyed elater click beetles, like this Alaus oculatus from Florida, are the biggest click beetles (Elateridae) found in temperate North America.

Click beetles are best known for their eponymous clicking ability- a sort of elastic locking mechanism on their thorax can snap open with a loud clicking sound, which helps them startle or escape the grasp of predators and allows them to launch themselves into the air when overturned (you can see that in slow motion at the end of the video)

(more elating click beetle trivia below!)

They live around decaying trees and logs, the adults feeding on sap flows and other sugary liquids while the predatory grubs use their powerful jaws to tunnel in search of other wood-dwelling insect larvae to devour (by contrast many smaller click beetle larvae, often called wireworms, feed on rotting wood itself or other plant matter). To rear these beetles in captivity it’s necessary to keep the larvae in containers made of a hard material like glass, as they’ll chew through plastic and escape (I learned this the hard way the first time I found and attempted to raise a grub).

There are 6 Alaus species in the US, the largest of which can be over 5 cm long. Two are found in forests along the east coast- A. oculatus, the eastern eyed elater (below, left) and its smaller relative A. myops, the blind elater (right).

Even though the larvae don't feed directly on decaying wood, different Alaus species prefer different trees- oculatus breeds in dead oaks and other hardwoods, while myops found in the same habitats only use well-rotted pines.

[pelagodes]

bro is made out of TV static

western eyed click beetle pal, Alaus melanops

[worm98]

i NEED tumblr to see this very cool beetle i found today!!

[that-cameo]

I got lucky and finally got to commission the incredible @sbeep for a sketch!!

Alau could punch me in the throat and I’d thank her for the opportunity.

[pigeon-feet]

babygirl you mean everything to me

[actualcoolbugfacts]

✨cool bug facts's✨

Alaus oculatus/Eastern eyed click beetle

🥺💖Shutterstock💖🥺

✌😘✌

These are the acrobatic N-zis of the beetle world!

The anatomy of these fantabulous insects!

They have large have fake eyes on their backs that shine during the night, which causes predators to only see the large eyes and think they are much larger than they actually are.

They do, in fact, have antennae, but in this image they have their antennae tucked under themselves. They have thread-like antennae. (Beetles antennae come in three different shapes, thread-like, comb-like, and club-like.)

They are very flexible, and when they feel threatened they will bend their head and thorax backwards and then snap back into place so fast that they let out a clicking noise (Hence the name.) and go flying four times their body length into the air. It may not look like it, but they do have very powerful mandibles, so do be careful while picking them up, and always wear gloves. The males have longer antennae than females. The males are also lighter in color than the females.

Diet.

The larvae have a bit of complex, and will eat other larvae of beetles they consider to be inferior, although many of the insects they consider to be inferior are often harmful to crops, although the A. Oculatus will also eat your crops, as they are very much hypocrites. The adults eat nectar and plant juice.

Behavior.

They are nocturnal.

They can make specific vibrations and signs to communicate with either other A. Oculatus', or just similar species to them.

The females will also produce specific scents when they are trying to attract a mate. And, of course, they seem to think they're better than flies and wood-boring beetles.

Habitat.

They are California girls. They are present in central, eastern, and north America. They live in Deciduous forests. The pregnant females, like Stag beetles, either burrow underground to lay their eggs, or go for the deadwood logs. They are also Texan cowgirls. (Note: They can, obviously, also be California boys/Texan cowboys, but I find it comedic to refer to everything as female.)

[trucenz]

ENTERING A NEW SEA

[crevicedwelling]

i just saw this big bug (big as my thumb) in my yard and I've never seen it before! Could you please help me identify it?

Alaus oculatus, the eyed elater. one of the largest click beetles in the US

[sorrcha]

septembug prompt 2 - "forager"

eastern eyed click beetle, Alaus oculatus

[zoe-oneesama]

For the Angelic Layer AU, I can't imagine Marinette being satisfied with just ONE look for her angel, so, the idea is that Ladybug will have a lot of different looks (with the "Ladybug version" being the primary one)

Ko-fi | Patreon

[platycryptus]

click beetles are truly romantic creatures 😍

[lupita13fan]

LiuShen - What if....? (ALAU)

Esto es solo un fanart, no es oficial, solo una suposición de que pasaría si....

Abyss Lords AU by: @thesirencat

[cnestus]

eastern eyed click beetle, Alaus oculatus (Elateridae)

[that-cameo]

AHEM

I can’t get enough, EVERYONE LOOK AT THEM!!! 

Beautiful art done by the incredible @jessadilla​ who was very patient and wonderful to work with. 

UGH I love them so much. They love each other so much.

If I had to write a story Of the greatest love in time I would have to sing of you How I'm this branch and you're the vine

And the romance that we have Oh, it's easy by design I was fortunate to find you I'm still blown away you're mine

[draconym]

Found this eyed elater (Alaus oculatus) on my desk at work today and took it outside into the garden.