Boxelder Bugs
Boxelder bugs are a type of nuisance pest that enter homes and other buildings during the late fall season. They do this in order to have a safe place to overwinter. When the weather is warm, they can be found in large numbers, infesting seed-bearing boxelder trees, along with maple, cherry, and ash trees.
Boxelder Bug Identification
Adult boxelder bugs are about 1/2 of an inch in length and appear black in color. They have distinctive red lines running along their thorax and sides. Their wings lie flat against their body and are red in color. Young boxelder bugs are redder in color than adults and are smaller and plumper in appearance.
Habits & Life Cycle Of Box Elder Bugs
Box elder bugs feed on the leaves, shoots, and seeds of the trees that they are infesting. They also use the trees that they invade to breed in. They will lay their rust-colored eggs in the trees or on the leaves of it. The eggs will hatch in just a few short days, and the nymphs will molt many times during the summer until they reach adulthood.
When the weather cools off they move inside through cracks and crevices of exterior walls, they will hide in crawl spaces, attics, and behind wall voids. Box elder bugs do not eat or breed during this dormant period; when the weather warms up again they move back outside to breed and feed on their host trees.
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