Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#57060
Zuni Eyed Elater - Alaus zunianus

Zuni Eyed Elater - Alaus zunianus
Weed Canyon, about 20 miles NW of Prescott, Yavapai County, Arizona, USA
May 24, 2006
I looked at a lot of Alaus but didn't see exactly this.

Moved to guide page.
David, if you have Photoshop or another program that allows you to brighten this image, you might try it and, if it shows better detail, post it under the edit function to replace this one. It's the only representative of its species so it would be nice to have it looking as good as possible.

 
Different photo
Jim and David-
I was trying to identify this same insect, so I have photos. Top and bottom, on a white piece of paper. Resolution: 1216x912. Unfortunately, the legs are retracted in the defensive posture.
If you can like, I can either post them(if you'll tell me how to do it) or email them

 
Post 'em
Click on the BugGuide "Help" tab where you'll find information concerning this site. Among other things it can tell you how to register making an account after which you can post items etc. The more you contribute, the more important and courtious it is to fill-in some of the biography stuff on your account. The "Help" section will also instuct you to scale your images to 560 along the longest side.

If you're certain about the identification you can post to "Recent" (your submissions will still be scrutinized.) If you're doubtful of the species post to "ID Request".

I invite you also to visit the "Forums" section where you can learn a lot about BugGuide and how to interact with it/us and the "Donate" tab is a good one especially if you don't have much expertise to contribute (or even if you do!).

We'll be watchin',

David.

 
Oh well :-)
Find another one, okay? Till then this image will do just fine.

 
Image, Zuni Eyed Elater
I lightened it a bit. The substrate is pretty washed-out but the beetle is intact. No matter how much I lightened it, even lightened the lightened, the lower edge of the head is never revrealed. If you or anyone would like to comment I'd be willing to make adjustments.

Alaus zunianus.
Wow! I am so envious! I'd really like to get a specimen of this species, which is very large, and easily distinguished by its range (southwest U.S.), extensive white markings, and the almost perfectly round eyespots. Nice find!

 
You're the one ...
... who put a name to it. Maybe this was easy for you but it had us stummped for quite a while. Congratulations and thanks to you!

Not A. myops
I believe this is out of range for A. myops, see guide page for the genus. Judging from the source quoted there, it seems like A. melanops and Arizona Eyed Click Beetle, A. lusciosus, are the likely possibilities.

 
Yeah!
Jim was suggesting that it is A. oculatus. I noticed my location was a stretch for that species (but that's one reason we're here). Known distribution is probably the last criterion I use for "identification." The patterning of my specimen seemed consistently and significantly different from A. oculatus. Then I noticed A. lusciosus but have not been able to find an image anywhere! Help!

 
This has caused me to research more.
I now know that there are many Alaus species I had never heard of. It would be great to confirm another species for bugguide.

Each beetle has individual fashion tastes.
This Alaus oculatus obviously once to be noticed.

 
Thanks Jim.
I'll move it to the species page so people can see the diversity. With the fake eyes and the somewhat cryptic petterning demonstrated in the photograph, we may have two forms of mimicry in one example. (My spelling may be poor but this morning I was suffering from a self-inflicted time-crunch. Thanks for the tip. Edited.)

 
Your spelling? What about mine?
I wrote "once to be noticed" instead of "wants to be noticed."

 
Well...
I thought you did that on purpose.