Comments for Black and Red Bugs (Red-shouldered Bug)
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Black and Red Bugs (Red-shouldered Bug)

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Red-shouldered Bug
by: Moni

Barbara
Great to know it was under a Golden Raintree! Interesting how this all works.
Thanks for letting us know!
Black & Red Bugs
by: Barbara

Thank you Moni....mmmm you may be on to something......All these bugs were under a GoldenRain Tree in the myrtle...Bingo!!! We have several Golden Rain Trees here on the property the both of the other ones just have grass underneath them.
Thank you all for your assistance
Red-shouldered Bug
by: Moni

Barbara
As you all have discussed, your bug looks much like the boxelder bug and I think it is in the same family Rhopalidae. But I think it is the Red shouldered bug.
They are known to feed on the seeds of several trees. They, much like the boxelder bugs, do show up in clusters.
This is a bug found in the southern United States.
These bugs are known to feed on a variety of plants but prefers balloonvine which grows in southern Florida. Additional hosts include other plants in the soapberry family, Ficus spp. and hollyhock family. In some areas the bugs are observed feeding so often on goldenrain tree seeds, that they are referred to as 'goldenrain tree bugs'. Your crape myrtle is in the loosestrife family. Nymphs and adults suck juices primarily from seeds but also suck juices from fruits of many trees. This can deform fruit.
This insect seems to be much like the boxelder bug as it is considered a nuisance rather than economically damaging. So there is no need to spray.
When we in the MidWest get lots of boxelder bugs on the outside of the house in the fall, we sometimes vacuum them with a shop vac, put them in a sealed bag and throw them away or in a bucket of soapy water. Doing that prevents so many from getting in the house.

If you only have a few I would not worry about them right now. They do not do any real damage.
Black & Red Bugs (maybe Box Elder Bugs)?
by: Anonymous

hmmmm, no we aren't near any fire areas, those are up in the mountains about 90-100 miles away from us....we're in the No.Sacramento Valley. They're about 40ft from the houses each way (right in the middle of 2 houses on property) I sure don't want them in my house! We live in the country surrounded by olive orchards. Maybe will call the ag dept in county.
Box Elder Bug
by: MydMo

If they are box elder bugs, they mainly are a nuisance when they get inside the house to spend the winter where it is warm. I am wondering if you are near any fire areas that might have driven them from their usual habitat. They are true bugs with sucking mouth parts and usually feed on plant material.
Box Elder Bugs
by: Barbara

Mydmo - so what do these Box Elder Bugs do? It' been very warm here in the 90's-100's, but the day we saw these it was much cooler. Do they usually stay in the ground? or trees? They didn't seem to be eating the leaves. the Black one is about an inch long and the red & black little ones are about 3/8" long. Have looked all over the property (5 acres) and haven't seen them anywhere else. Very strange indeed!
Box Elder Bug
by: MydMo

It looks like a variety of box elder bug. In Missouri they congregate on the side of houses in the fall and in the winter when the temperatures warm up.
Red and Black Bugs
by: Anonymous

I also have had the problem of those red and black bugs. What is there name and what purpose do they serve if any.

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