The boxelder bug (''Boisea trivittata'') is a North American species of

true bug Hemiptera (; ) is an order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and shield bugs. They range in size from to around ...

. It is found primarily on

boxelder ''Acer negundo'', the box elder, boxelder maple, Manitoba maple or ash-leaved maple, is a species of maple native to North America. It is a fast-growing, short-lived tree with opposite, compound leaves. It is sometimes considered a weedy or inv ...

trees, as well as

maple ''Acer'' () is a genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples. The genus is placed in the family Sapindaceae.Stevens, P. F. (2001 onwards). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 9, June 2008 nd more or less continuously updated since http ...

and

ash Ash or ashes are the solid remnants of fires. Specifically, ''ash'' refers to all non-aqueous, non- gaseous residues that remain after something burns. In analytical chemistry, to analyse the mineral and metal content of chemical samples, ash ...

trees.Boxelder Bugs
University of Minnesota Extension The adults are about long with a dark brown or black coloration, relieved by red wing veins and markings on the abdomen;

nymphs A nymph ( grc, νύμφη, nýmphē, el, script=Latn, nímfi, label=Modern Greek; , ) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Different from Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are typ ...

are bright red. In 2020, this species invaded Chile, thus becoming an

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

Etymology

Trivittata is from the Latin ''tri'' (three) + ''vittata'' (banded).

Biology and taxonomy

Boxelder bugs feed almost entirely on the developing seeds of boxelder,

, and

ash tree ''Fraxinus'' (), commonly called ash, is a genus of flowering plants in the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae. It contains 45–65 species of usually medium to large trees, mostly deciduous, though a number of subtropical species are evergree ...

s. The boxelder bug is sometimes confused with insects belonging to the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

Jadera ''Jadera'' is a genus of true bugs in the soapberry bug subfamily. Members of this genus are only found in the Americas (from southern Canada through Argentina).Göllner-Scheiding, U. (1983): General-Katalog der Familie Rhopalidae (Heteropter ...

'', and with the western boxelder bug (''

Boisea rubrolineata ''Boisea rubrolineata'' or the western boxelder bug is identical to the boxelder bug aside from having prominent red veins on its corium. It is found in western North America. Adults are 9-13 mm in length. The thorax and wings are black with re ...

'') which it is related to. The name "stink bug", which is more regularly applied to the family

Pentatomidae Pentatomidae is a family of insects belonging to the order Hemiptera, generally called shield bugs or stink bugs. Pentatomidae is the largest family in the superfamily Pentatomoidea, and contains around 900 genera and over 4700 species.Robert G ...

, is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to ''Boisea trivittata''. Instead, boxelder bugs belong to the family

Rhopalidae Rhopalidae, or scentless plant bugs, are a family of true bugs. In older literature, the family is sometimes called "Corizidae". They differ from the related coreids in lacking well-developed scent glands. They are usually light-colored and sma ...

, the so-called "scentless plant bugs". However, boxelder bugs are strong-smelling and to discourage predators will release a pungent and bad-tasting compound upon being disturbed. This allows them to form conspicuous aggregations without being preyed on. These insects feed, lay eggs and develop on boxelder trees, most commonly occurring on female trees as they produce seeds. Boxelder bugs prefer seeds; however, they also suck leaves. They can be frequently observed on maple as these trees provide them with seeds as well. Boxelder bugs overwinter in plant debris or protected human-inhabited places and other suitable structures.

As pests

Although they specialize on the seeds from maple, boxelder and ash, they may pierce other parts of the plant while feeding. They are not classified as an agricultural pest and are generally not considered injurious to ornamental plantings. However, they are known to damage some fruits in the fall when they leave their summer quarters in trees and seek areas to overwinter. Feeding by the bugs produces dimples, scars, fruit deformation, corky tissue, and even premature fruit-drop in strawberries and some tree fruits. During certain times of the year boxelder bugs cluster together in large groups while sunning themselves on warm surfaces near their host tree (e.g. on rocks,

shrubs A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

, trees, and man-made structures). This is especially a problem in the fall when they are seeking a warm place to

overwinter Overwintering is the process by which some organisms pass through or wait out the winter season, or pass through that period of the year when "winter" conditions (cold or sub-zero temperatures, ice, snow, limited food supplies) make normal activi ...

. Large numbers are often seen congregating on houses seeking an entry point. Once they have gained access, they remain inactive behind

siding Siding may refer to: * Siding (construction), the outer covering or cladding of a house * Siding (rail) A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line, branch l ...

and inside of walls while the weather is cool. Once the home's heating system becomes active for the season, the insects may falsely perceive it to be springtime and enter inhabited parts of the home in search of food and water. Once inside inhabited areas of a home, their

excreta Excretion is a process in which metabolic waste is eliminated from an organism. In vertebrates this is primarily carried out by the lungs, kidneys, and skin. This is in contrast with secretion, where the substance may have specific tasks after lea ...

may stain upholstery, carpets, drapes, and they may feed on certain types of house plants. In the spring, the bugs leave their winter

hibernation Hibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy characterized by low body-temperature, slow breathing and heart-rate, and low metabolic rate. It most ...

locations to feed and lay eggs on maple or ash trees. Clustered masses of boxelder bugs may be seen again at this time, and depending on the temperature, throughout the summer. Their outdoor congregation habits and indoor excreta deposits are perceived as a nuisance by many people, therefore boxelder bugs are often considered pests. However, boxelder bugs are harmless to people and pets. The removal of boxelder trees and maple trees can help control boxelder bug populations.

Spider Spiders ( order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species ...

s are minor predators, but because of the boxelder bug's

chemical defenses Chemical defense is a life history strategy employed by many organisms to avoid consumption by producing toxic or repellent metabolites or chemical warnings which incite defensive behavioral changes. The production of defensive chemicals occurs in ...

few birds or other animals will eat them. Boxelder bug populations are not affected by any major diseases or

parasites Parasitism is a Symbiosis, close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the Host (biology), host, causing it some harm, and is Adaptation, adapted structurally to this way of lif ...

. File:Adult and nymph Boxelder Bugs.jpg File:Boxelder bug pittsburgh.jpg File:Box Elder Bug adults and nymphs.jpg File:Boxelderbugz.jpg File:Mating Small Milkweed bugs Lygaeus kalmii.jpg, Mating small milkweed bugs (''Lygaeus kalmii'') in

Lockport, New York Lockport is both a city and the Lockport (town), New York, town that surrounds it in Niagara County, New York, Niagara County, New York (state), New York. The city is the Niagara county seat, with a population of 21,165 according to 2010 census ...

. Sometimes confused with boxelder bugs. File:Group of Boxelder Bugs.jpg, alt=Large group of boxelder bugs found on a fallen limb., Large group of boxelder bugs found on a fallen limb File:BoxelderBugsBoltonONSep2018.jpg, alt=A mass of boxelder bugs on a fencepost in Bolton, Ontario in September 2018., A mass of boxelder bugs on a fencepost in Bolton, Ontario, in September 2018

References

External links

*
Box Elder Bug – large format photos and information
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4951659 Serinethinae Household pest insects Hemiptera of North America Insects described in 1825 Taxa named by Thomas Say