Does anyone know what this is?

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   bravewarriorposted 10 years ago

   Does anyone know what this is?
   
   This alien being flew into my garden today and landed with a plop, like a frog. I've since found it in other areas on or near my porch. Each time it moves, it plops. I've never seen anything like it before. I live in Central Florida if that helps.
   
   

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2. 94

   MizBejabbersposted 10 years ago

   I'm guessing a cicada. They are rare because they come out of the ground every 13 or 14 years and make a horrendous noise. They shed their exoskeletons and go back underground. In fact, our local 911 has gone on television asking people not to call them because "it's not a siren and there's no danger". Cicadas are harmless to humans.

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      bravewarriorposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Miz B, this didn't come out of a tree. It flew from my Star Jasmine. Perhaps I've not seen a cicada before it sheds it's shell. It didn't make a noise, just flew and plopped. At first I thought is was a tree frog (judging by the sound) but it's not.

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3. 92

   Venkatachari Mposted 10 years ago

   I hope it is a beetle. We have black ones here which fall heavily with some thump and then crawl very slowly into dark corners. Whenever it attempts to fly in air it plops. Not limited to Florida, I think. They can be found at any region and corner of the world.

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      bravewarriorposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I guess I should try Googling it. It's really rather large with what looks like two huge eyes. I have no idea if they're eyes or not, but whatever this thing is, it's creepy!

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4. 85

   bravewarriorposted 10 years ago

   Venkatachari, you're right. It is a beetle. I Googled it and found this:
   
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaus_oculatus
   
   It's called a click beetle.

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      Venkatachari Mposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you Shauna, for confirming it and clarifying and selecting my answer as best answer.

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      bravewarriorposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You're welcome, Venkatachari. Thank you for steering me in the right direction.

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   MariaMontgomeryposted 10 years ago

   Shauna, I'm here in central Fla, too. I'm not sure what it is, but I can't tell much about it from this photo. Can you enlarge the photo or zoom in with you camera for a very, very close up shot?

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      MariaMontgomeryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Well, I guess I should have read the other comments before commenting, but my e-mail went directly to your question, and I didn't even see that there were any others.

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      bravewarriorposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That's okay, Maria. I had some zoomed pix, but they weren't as clear. It sure is ugly!

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   manatita44posted 10 years ago

   A kind of Beatle, I believe. Life is evolving and things do change, as you know. Perhaps tomorrow I may have red hair. He he. Actually, perhaps they will grow back.
   
   Hope you like a little fun, my dear friend Shauna. I'm in a playful mood. Lots of love.

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   1. 85

      bravewarriorposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Play away, my friend!

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