Boxelder bug

Natural Habitat

Found primarily on female boxelder trees, but also maple and ash trees; often enter homes in the autumn seeking shelter.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous, primarily feeding on the seeds, leaves, and flowers of the boxelder tree by sucking out the fluids.

Behavior Patterns

They are social insects that congregate in large numbers on sunny walls or tree trunks. They enter a state of dormancy during winter and emerge in spring to lay eggs.

Risks & Benefits

They are mostly a nuisance pest and do not bite or cause significant damage to properties, though their excrement can stain light-colored fabrics. They do not typically harm the trees they feed on.

Identified on: 4/6/2026