Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 59, 1 by TexasPuddyPrint

TexasPuddyPrint wrote:
I had to attend a shareholder meeting so didn't drive out to the ranch today. Decided to drive out to the National Butterfly Center park in Mission (formerly NABA) - not much flying around but did see four of these beetles on a tepeguaje / Lead Tree. They are Eyed Click Beetles (Alaus oculatus). I'd never seen one before so of course had to take photos and research them on the internet. Found them on Dave's too! Seems they are good guys - their larva eat wood boring insects. Hmmm...but if they eat wood boring insects - does that means they are inside the tree too??? Or should I give them the benefit of the doubt and believe they travel through the holes made by the wood boring until they find them and eat them?

Oh well, either way...they are interesting to look at. Almost 2 inches in length! Those big eye spots are sure to scare away predators too.

~ Cat