Boxelder Bug

Natural Habitat

Found on boxelder trees, ash, and maple trees, often congregating on the sunny sides of buildings, rocks, or trees in fall to seek overwintering sites.

Diet & Feeding

Primarily feeds on the sap and seeds of boxelder trees, as well as ash and maple trees. They use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract fluids.

Behavior Patterns

Boxelder bugs are known for congregating in large numbers, especially in the fall, seeking warmth and shelter to overwinter. They are relatively slow-moving and harmless, though their aggregations can be a nuisance. They can fly but typically crawl. They often overwinter in cracks and crevices of homes.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include being a nuisance pest when they enter homes in large numbers, and their fecal droppings can stain surfaces. They are not known to bite humans or pets, nor do they cause significant structural damage. They are not considered beneficial to humans, but play a small role in the ecosystem as decomposers of fallen seeds.

Identified on: 9/20/2025