email: uge1067@uga.edu

BOXELDER BUG

BY Louise Weyer

IDENTIFICATION:  Grayish brown to black bug with three longitudinal red stripes on thorax and thin diagonal red lines on the upper part of the wings.  One half inch long.  Nymphs of all sizes are bright red.

During fall and warm days in winter, hordes swarm on walls (inside and outside), sidewalks, furniture, drapes, trees, etc.   

In spring, the female lays eggs on boxelders, maples, ash and fruit trees.   The eggs hatch in about 2 weeks and the young feed on tender twigs, foliage and seeds throughout spring and summer.  No damage to these plants.  In fall, fly in swarms to warm and dry sites.  Bugs winter in buildings and dry sheltered places.  One to two broods per year.

 DAMAGE:  Nuisance in the home.  Bugs will not bite humans or pets.  Do not feed on fabrics or furniture, but excrement may stain household items.  If crushed, emit a sickening odor.

CONTROL:   (1) Vacuum bugs: remove and destroy bag.

(2)     Keep doors and windows screened.  Seal cracks.

(3)     Indoors:  Spray with pyrethrins.

(4)     Outdoors:  Treat soil with bifenthrin (Capture*, Brigade*, Talstar*), cyfluthrin (Tempo*), cypermethrin (Ammo*) or pyrethrins sprayed in a 5-6 ft. band around the foundation.  * = brand name.

(5)     Outdoors: Spray outside wall 2-3 ft. up --- test in inconspicuous place for staining. 

Other fact sheets on Boxelder bugs.

The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. The Cooperative Extension Service offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability.