Boxelder Bug

Natural Habitat

Typically found on and around boxelder trees, as well as maple and ash trees; often seeks shelter in buildings during winter.

Diet & Feeding

Mainly sap from the seeds, leaves, and twigs of boxelder trees, but can also consume juices from other host trees and fruits.

Behavior Patterns

Gregarious insects that often cluster in large groups on warm, sunny surfaces. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and enter diapause in wall voids or attics during cold months.

Risks & Benefits

Primarily a nuisance pest; they do not bite, sting, or carry diseases. Their presence is beneficial to the ecosystem as they provide a food source for birds and spiders, though they can leave small stains from their excrement indoors.

Identified on: 3/23/2026