Detailed information on Boxelder Bug, Eastern Boxelder Bug (Boisea trivittata)

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prairiefuser

Oacoma, SD | October 2021 | Neutral

These bugs showed up in huge numbers on the south side of our garage. One day I noticed one in the garage on its back rotating a rather large piece of leaf with its feet. I helpfully removed the leaf and righted the bug, who found the leaf, crawled under it, rolled over, and continued rotating. WHAT??!!

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MomD

Lexington, MI | August 2019 | Negative

This bug is a real pain. I was told by a bug expert that they use Murphy's Oil Soap and water to get rid of them. Just a small amount of soap with a spray bottle of water knocks them right down! We've had them here in Lexington, MI for years on a box elder tree (and on everything else). This year we didn't see any for the first time. All the leaves on the tree had black spots on them, but this year it is clean. The last couple of years they moved to other areas of the property but have stayed away from the house. Also, the soap keeps the vinyl siding nice and clean.

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weedwhisperer

Midland, MI | August 2019 | Negative

In 48640 (Mid-MI) they are horrific. Claims they are harmless is bogus. Everything we could find said the same. "They cycle". "they can be a nuisance, but harmless"...LIES.
They decimate our maples; and e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. in the garden. They are adapting beyond their range. Nymphs are found in March/April leaf litter by the thousands. THOUSANDS.
Combat has been dawn soap halved with vinegar; sprayed on nymphs to adults when seen. (In mass quantities.) We keep this mixture limited to house; and any area NOT, designated for garden/food purpose. As vinegar will kill green space.
Dawn to suffocate,vinegar to ensure demise.

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horsefethers

| September 2018 | Neutral

These are quite common in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in the fall. I have not any complaints as have not seen any damage done by them so far. They seem to like to get into warmer places for winter, like your house!

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michiganflower

Northville, MI | August 2011 | Negative

I have not been able to find any information in regards to this insect being a "pest bug" and have wondered if I have not misidentified this creature. The nymphs suck the life out of my raspberries, potatoes and various other plants. They have become a true pest here. We have hundreds of silver maple, which seems to attract them. I spray them with a mixture of soapy water, garlic and hot pepper. It does kill them, but thousands appear again. It seems the season is over for the time being. What a relief! It is my second most hated insect here, just above the dreaded Japanese beetle.

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Nfredible

Norfolk, VA | November 2010 | Neutral

I posted a pic of the bug found at my house, but honestly can't identify for sure whether it is the Boisea trivittata or not. It seems to share all the traits given, is residing only on the Southern face of my house under the vinyl siding. If anyone has can find the picture posted by me and can positively ID the insect, i would appreciate it.

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Dedda

Petersburg, VA (Zone 7a) | May 2009 | Negative

The tree that these critters feasted upon was cut down over a decade ago, before we bought the house.However they seem to grow in numbers every year, even invaded the attick this last year...
Does anyone know of anything that works- short of chemical warfare or a flame thrower?

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addicted2plants

Saint Louis, MO (Zone 6a) | May 2009 | Negative

We also had Golden Raintree. I took the bugs to Missouri Botanical Garden "bugologist" who told me it was Box Elder Bug. The minute I mentioned they were all over near the Golden Rain tree he said cut it down. Tree was already looking bad..cut it down and no more bugs LOL

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fairladymi

Howell, MI | March 2009 | Negative

Southeastern Michigan - in the fall they cover the west side of my house (where the sun is) and they seem to find their way in no matter what I do. In any research I've done, the best thing I've come up with is to vacuum them up. I have a LazerVac (very handy for any kind of bug). My daughter sprayed Windex on an area where they were and they just dropped off. Probably because it was slippery. This is March and now I'm seeing all the ones who wintered over in the cracks, etc. I just keep vacuuming!

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claypa

West Pottsgrove, PA (Zone 6b) | June 2008 | Neutral

To the posters discussing Golden Raintrees and this bug,
there is a very similar bug in the same family that prefers Golden Raintrees, so that might be what you're seeing:

[[email protected]]

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Malus2006

Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) | March 2008 | Neutral

I have seen them all growing season long - clearly they feed on some plants other than boxelders - I heard they prefer certain sexes of boxelder. I am curious about why goldenrain trees- clearly they are not part of Acer genus (Maple) I will have to research them. Maybe the particular goldenrain tree were genetic extra susceptible or stressed so that why it attracted more bugs than neighbor.

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cathy4

St. Louis County, MO (Zone 5a) | October 2007 | Negative

We had these bugs so bad we had to cut down the tree they lived on. We could scoop them up with a shovel to put in a bag. They invaded our house, covered the sunny side of the house until you couldn't see the siding. They leave little smeary marks on everything. It was years after cutting down the tree that we finally got rid of them. Then we moved. Our neighbor has a golden rain tree, and they also have these bugs, but not as bad.

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melsalz

Mooresville, NC (Zone 7b) | September 2007 | Neutral

Not sure if these guys are doing any damage yet but they are all over my butterfly weed seed pods. Very prolific.

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bolino

Toledo, OH (Zone 6a) | June 2007 | Neutral

Found these clustered on a patio fence 6-28-07

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canai

Lafayette, LA | April 2007 | Neutral

These bugs attacked my tomatoes last summer. I didn't harvest even one. They would attack a few green tomatoes at a time sucking all the liquid inside. I tried throwing flour on them which they didn't like , later a microbe liquid which seemed to smother them and lastly moth traps that they were able to free themselves from. I shook the tomatoes and once in the trap I crushed them . There were just to many of them and I lost the battle. 30 years of gardening and I have never encounter these persistant pest. Any ideas?

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drummer49

Haines City, FL (Zone 9b) | April 2007 | Neutral

We've had them for years. They do NO DAMAGE, but they are prolific. They love Golden Raintrees. The summer after hurricane Charley, we saw very few, but they're back now. I have yet to find a pesticide that wipes them out, they adapt quickly.

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IrisLover79

Westchester, IL (Zone 5b) | March 2007 | Neutral

We had large numbers of these bugs around last fall & this spring (end of March). They formed clumps (with dozens of bugs) on the compost heap, dead logs, and our garage. They haven't harmed any plants, I just dislike their large numbers because I'm afraid of bugs. I've also heard them referred to as "Halloween bugs," because they are orange & black and are around in the fall.

[I put a similar description in the Large Milkweed Bug file. I mistakenly thought that's what these were, at first. I don't know how to delete that comment, sorry!]

~Kristy

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melody

Benton, KY (Zone 7a) | September 2006 | Neutral

While the adult insects or the nymphs do no real damage to the trees, they do create a mess sometimes with the nymphs drpooing out on to the ground, and unsuspecting bug-squeamish passerbys.

Found throughout the eastern half of North america, the adults generally overwinter under bark and in cracks of buildings.

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kennedyh

(Zone 10a) | August 2006 | Neutral

This species was previously known as Leptocoris trivittatus

Boxelder Bug, Eastern Boxelder Bug

Boisea trivittata

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