Nature Notes: Box elder bugs

Box elder bugs are about ½-inch long with orange and red bands along a black exterior. They can fly up to two miles at a time. Box elder bugs overwinter as adults, oftentimes in our homes and become active on warm sunny days.

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Before there were stinkbugs to disturb our domestic bliss, we had the box elder bug (Boisea trivittata). The box elder bug is a native species, unlike the brown marmorated stink bug, which emigrated from China.

Box elder bugs are true bugs that are about ½-inch long with orange and red bands along a black exterior. These bugs can fly up to two miles at a time. Box elder bugs overwinter as adults, oftentimes in our homes and become active on warm sunny days. Once the adults emerge in the spring, they make their way outdoors and look for food. They mate in late spring, then females lay eggs on the female box elder tree.

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(1) comment

Dwasserba
Dwasserba

“… the box elder bug becomes a nuisance as they congregate in mass and can stain walls, curtains and furniture with their fecal material.” EW

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