Yes, tis true. I was doing the lawn with the tractor, and spotted what I thought was a Monarch butterfly. Typically enough, by the time I ran in, and changed to the 400mm lens, it was gone. (Turns out it was a Great spangled fritillary!)Our milkweed had just started to blossom, and they smell wonderful! I was expecting the Monarch butterflies about now.
I tramped sadly past the tractor, about to put the camera down and get back to work, when I spotted this interesting critter.
An Eyed click beetle (Alaus oculatus) went flying by. It is an interesting beastie. I tried to get a photo, and nudged it. It bent its body and made a huge 'click' sound! Between that and its eyes on its pronutum, it is a formidable thing.
I photographed its belly, which was similarly intriguing. Whilst I didn't measure it, it appeared to be about 3" long! You can its wings in the first photo.
They live in forests, in rotten wood. As a larva, it eats grubs and wood-boring beetles.
They feed on nectar and plant juice.
