As I sat down to the computer today something odd prompted me to blog: an elaterid beetle. I know, my boss would be proud that a beetle inspired me to do anything, but that's not the point. More commonly known as click beetles, elaterids in America are usually about 3/4 inches long and pretty skinny with a hard, brown exoskeleton. So, not a huge bug, but three times the size of a lady bug. They get their name because when you flip them over on their back they will dramatically arch their backs with an audible "click" and flip over, so naturally a favorite toy for kids. When I first found out about them I thought to myself, "Interesting bug, it's a shame they only have them here in Utah!" But yet, I picked one off of my keyboard a few minutes ago to watch it flip here in Schnecksville, PA. They not only live here, but apparently come inside houses sometimes. Why had I never seen them before? Because I wasn't looking. I'm sure I did see them, maybe noted their odd shape, and then forgot them. When I went back to Hungary last summer, back when I started this blog, I had a load of similar experiences. I was always wondering why so many fascinating bugs popped up even though I never went out of my way to find them. How much of the world is hiding right in front of my eyes? What do I see in people but fail to note? What crosses my path that I fail to look for? The more I learn about the world, them more the world lets me learn from it, the more I will see and know. I learned a little bit about insects and suddenly I see them everywhere. I learn a little about Hungarian morphology and suddenly I see it everywhere. What else will I stumble across in my lifetime?
