Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.
As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”
At first, I thought this nearly two-inch-long Eastern Eyed Click Beetle crawling up a London plane tree was actually two beetles. This is a lot of beetle. I’ve seen Alaus oculatus before, but I have never gotten such a close view.
The larvae of this species preys on other beetle larvae found in decaying wood. The adults don’t eat much, evidently.
It seems a lot of insects fo most of their eating before becoming sexually mature. Perhaps it is more efficient or lets them focus upon the task at hand. Either way, selection has rendered it’s judgment on the issue.m
Backyard and Beyond 
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