The click beetle (Elateridae sp.) exploring the fleshy flower of umbrella magnolia (Magnolia tripetala) is enacting a ritual that evolved more than 95 million years ago. Magnolias emerged at about that time, making them among the first flowering plants on Earth. While dinosaurs roamed the planet then, bees did not yet exist, so magnolias evolved to be pollinated by more ancient insects: beetles. Over time, beetle pollination has influenced the form and even the scent of magnolia flowers. And to

To click or not to click, that is the question. The eyed click beetles are some of the coolest beetles to encounter in the spring and early summer here in the US. With a handful of species spanning just about the entire eastern 2/3rds of the country you’ve got a pretty good chance of encountering these lovely beetles! Don’t let their cute appearance fool you though, these beetles have a nasty secret! As they grow as larvae they actually prey on OTHER beetle larvae! That’s right! They live in fal