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Allston gets deer, Brookline gets turkeys and the South End gets: Bugs with googly eyes
By adamg on Fri, 06/04/2021 - 5:01pm
John Hanzl spotted Googly McGoogleeyes here skittering across a sidewalk in the South End and wondered what exactly it is.
Mr. Van Meter posits it's an eyed click beetle, Alaus oculatus, which Dr. Wikipedia tells us is a type of click beetle that has developed those fake eyes to try to scare off potential predators.
It's called a click beetle because it is "capable of suddenly catapulting itself out of danger by releasing the energy stored by a click mechanism," on its underside. It's normally found in "deciduous/mixed forests and woodlands," neither of which the South End is noted for (then again, Allston isn't noted for deer).
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Comments
Bugs are amazing! Nice find.
Bugs are amazing! Nice find.
That is mad crazy bad!
That is mad crazy bad!
Also known as an "eyed elater"
which is a great name because I'm always elated to find one.
My favorite Boston "Dat don't belong here"
moment happened a few years back while I was driving down Clarendon Street through an empty Back Bay on my way to Thanksgiving dinner.
Looked over, saw a handsome, smallish ring-necked pheasant just strolling casually along the sidewalk, like it knew it wasn't on anyone's menu that day, and thus did not give a damn. Impressive.
They were common when I was a kid
When I was a kid in the near suburbs it was common to see the pheasants. IIRC they are not native, but were imported by hunters looking for a more British experience, and they did pretty well in the suburbs until the turkeys, which actually do belong here, started making a comeback.
Birdbrained
They aren't that bright. They are common in the Blue Hills, particularly on lower Unquity Road. Several times, I braked hard riding a bike as one would run (not too fast) across the road in front of me. From time to time, I'd see a car-flattened one. Yet, in general, I liked to see them, colorful them, appearing out of the woods.
Magoo sez
Mondo lols! Magoo.
Looks like Bugs McBugsley to
Looks like Bugs McBugsley to me!
2500 units plus a gem for finishing your film roll
i am replaying beyond good and evil. i feel like the science center would reward john with their good framing.