Comments for
black and orange flying (Eastern Boxelder bug)

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Effective way to keep them out of the house?
by: Anonymous

We get hundreds of them, and since the winter's been extremely mild here in Georgia we still have about a hundred on various parts of the front of the house!
Earlier it was them and ladybugs covering our house, but the ladybugs seem to have died out.
I wouldn't mind them so much if they would stay outside!
Boxelder bug
by: Moni

Anonymous-bugs
vacuum with a shop vac
bugs
by: Anonymous

these bugs are covering my house and tend to make their way inside i thought they were a type of stink bug but was not sure!!! any way of getting rid of them??????
Boxelder bug
by: Moni

Anonymous - mutation?
This bug overwinters as an adult and they look pretty much all alike. When you say the body was bright red?....well the body - abdomen is bright red, the wings are not. You would have to look close at the eyes to see red...it may be dark red after this long winter....assuming you have just seen these recently??
If you look at this website page, one of the last photos shows the body of the adult...it is red. Some of these photos are of the young or nymph stage...which should not be there now, but perhaps has made it thru the winter.
Let us know what you think.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/3598/bgimage?from=128
mutation?
by: Anonymous

I found some bugs similar to these on the sunny side of my house (western North Carolina), they were crawling up under the siding. The wing span looks like this picture but no red eyes & the body is bright red. Could this be the same bug but with some mutations?
Thanks to Moni
by: ByGeorge

Thanks for that helpful and full answer. It is much appreciated.
Eastern Boxelder bug
by: Moni

ByGeorge
Yes, your bug is a boxelder bug. In the fall they migrate to find overwintering sites and houses provide an insulated, out of the wind, warm spot to spend the winter.
Boxelder bugs overwinter as adults, then in spring leave the hibernating locations under piles of boards, rocks, leaves, grass and other debris close to the house.
Females begin laying eggs in crevices of tree bark, stones, leaves, grasses and on other objects near boxelder trees. Bright-red nymphs appear about the same time new tree leaves develop.
Boxelder bugs feed primarily on the seed-bearing boxelder trees by sucking sap from the leaves, tender twigs and developing seeds. They do little damage to boxelder trees. There can be one to two generations per year. They are not a garden pest.

Control measures in yards and gardens are best handled by prevention. Since boxelder bugs feed and reproduce on seed producing (female) boxelder trees, remove these trees, especially around the house, and/or planting male trees would eliminate nuisance populations. Adults can fly 2 or more miles to hibernate. Eliminate possible hiding places such as any boards, rocks, leaves, grass and other debris close to the house. Rake leaves and grass away from the foundation, especially on the south and west sides of the house. Be sure to caulk and close off any openings where boxelder bugs could enter the house. Screen all windows, doors, crawl spaces, exhaust and roof vents and louvers.
In fall when clusters of the bugs are seen, either vacuum with a shop vac or carefully pour boiling water over them.

Thanks
by: ByGeorge

Thanks Anonymous for identifying this insert. In this case, identifying is the key that unlocks the door to understanding. I appreciate your taking the time and making the effort to help.
boxelder bugs
by: Anonymous

boxelder bugs can be quite annoying
please help
by: vtl

I have these bugs too. They are all over my garden phlox and can do enough damage to keep them from blooming. I've tried bug spray but they keep coming back in force. They seem to overwinter and spread like crazy.

What's the best way to control them? vtl0401@yahoo.com

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