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Bright red beetle (Boxelder bug)

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Boxelder Bug huh, so now I know!
by: Mike

I use the fall leaf raking as a natural mulch in my flower gardens, mostly maple leaves, some oak, and of course, the maple seed helecopters. I first found these little guys while cleaning out my gutters here in NE Ohio. They love to breed on the white, sunny side of my shed. Now I have them all over my yard, but they only seem to be interested in eating the dead seeds and leaves. They gather in small groups, always with at least one larger one amongst them. In areas where there are many groups, I've noticed that there is always one or two larger, and usually a bit darker ones, that seem to be standing a vigilant guard.
I've let one crawl on my hands a few times. At first they kind of freak out, like an ant, then they calm down and I can look straight at them while they wave their antenna in a curious investigation of me. So cool!
They also wander around on their own just as ants would do in search of whatever it is that bugs determine to be a significant search item.
I have yet to find one in the house, and they have not damaged anything in my yard. The dog doesn't seem to be affected by them other than to feel a tickle when one crawls across her.
I suppose if they were a problem, I could wipe them out with some sort of chemical, but I like to think that maybe they are actually a benefit, like ants and bees, in spreading pollen from plant to plant and aiding in the overall beauty of my city burdened back yard.
Boxelder bug
by: Moni

Diana
As the maple and boxelder trees come out in leaf the insects will disappear...so just be patient. They do not do any damage to your house.
help
by: diana

these boxelder bugs are all over the side of the house where the sun shines on them. How do you get rid of them?????
boelder bugs gone wild...in Northern California
by: Anonymous

Northern california inendated with BoxElder bugs...hundreds if not thousands on house..driveway & in windowsills..vacuuming every other day to rid of...theses are common here and multiply as you can see on house..
they are a nuisance...as sooo many in area of my home cant even get mail out of box...eeek...
Lots of Box Elder Bugs in Central FL
by: Anonymous

I live in central Florida and it is now February. I have thousands of Box Elder Bugs at the base of my Lantanas, rain trees, etc. Also, there are several hundred on the side of a plastic planter at my neighbor's home.
we like bugs
by: kristen

we actually enjoy them very much. its fun to see the tiny tiny baby bugs alongside the little bit bigger bugs, and the adult beetles hanging out as well. at our house they eat the helecopters that fall from maple trees and while we have a pretty huge congregation outside every year ive never had more than a few beetles find their way into the house so i dont think of them as a nuisansce at all.
Boxelder bug
by: Moni

Brenda
Thanks for checking. This insect is the nymph or young stage of the boxelder bug. These are in the order Hemiptera known as true bugs. True bugs are soft bodied and have three life stages:egg, nymph(several moltings before they are adults), and adult.
Beetles are in the order Coleoptera. Beetles have hard shells as outer coverings. There are four life stages: egg, larva or worms, pupa and adult.
So the boys can label it boxelder bug. If they are old enough to use the computer they can look for it online. Then they can draw the three body parts, six legs, two eyes and two antenna!
Have fun and thanks for helping the boys to learn about the animals(insects) with the largest number of species in the world.
Is it a beetle or Boxelder Bug?
by: Brenda

I was happy to finally find a picture of our bug we found, but I'm not sure if it's called Bright Red & Black Beetle or Boxelder Bug. My boys found it outside today and drew a picture of it and we're trying to find out what it's called.
Boxelder bug
by: Moni

Jane
Boxelder bugs only eat boxelder trees. Your Black Lace, gold and varigated elderberry is a different plant and they are not interested in those.
The bugs are a nuisance when they manage to come into our homes in the fall. They crawl around leaving reddish droppings on walls, floors, and curtains.
Many thanks
by: Jane

Thanks to Moni and the other person who commented. So they are no danger to any of my elder bushes? I have black lace elder, sutherland gold elder and another variegated one. I havent seen them near these bushes but they are not in bloom or seed.
Boxelder bug nymph
by: Moni

As suggested, you have a group of boxelder bug young or nymphs. The nymphs of the boxelder bug have what looks like a yellow spot on the center back of the abdomen while the milkweed bug develops a couple of black spots there in the larger nymphal stages. Boxelder bugs do like to congregate together...and they are probably under a boxelder tree.
Does the tree have a maple like leaf, three leaflets to a leaf?...Then it is a boxelder tree.
box elder bug
by: Anonymous

Seems to be a box elder bug. apparently they dont do much harm unless you are a maple or box elder seed or flower. But they will try to overwinter in your house and can be a nuisance.

They closely resemble a milkweed bug as well but am pretty sure these are box elder bugs

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