In addition to foliar feeding, boxelder bugs may also damage flowers, tender twigs, and seeds of boxelder. Severely infested foliage may appear chlorotic (yellow). Boxelder bug nymphs and adults Damageīoth nymphs and adults remove plant fluid from newly developing leaves that may result in distortion of the foliage. This insect species is distributed throughout eastern United States west to Nevada.įigure 2. Depending on weather conditions, one to two generations may be produced each year in Pennsylvania. They continue feeding until they mature into adults. Nymphs feed on foliage and seeds by inserting their piercing-sucking mouthparts into these tissues. In spring soon after finding host trees, females lay eggs in crevices in the bark of the trees. They fly back to host trees where they remain active over the growing season. In late April to early May, the bugs emerge from hibernation about the time buds on boxelder trees begin opening. ![]() Adult boxelder bugs will frequently attempt to enter cracks and crevices in the walls, in an attempt to secure a protected, over-wintering site, occasionally finding their way into the living areas of homes. It is during this period that homeowners become aware of the insects. With the approach of fall, this species congregates in large numbers on the south side of trees, buildings, and rocks exposed to the sun (Figure 2). In heavily infested areas, they sometimes are associated with ash (Fraxinus spp.) and maple ( Acer spp.). The boxelder bug frequently becomes a nuisance pest around homes and buildings near plantings of the boxelder, Acer negundo. The adult's abdomen is also reddish orange. ![]() Three longitudinal stripes on the thorax and the margins of the basal half of the wings are reddish orange. The brownish-black adults are about 12 mm long and somewhat flattened on the top (Figure 1). The nymphs become darker red as they mature through the five nymphal instars. First instar nymphs are approximately 1.3 mm in length, wingless (with black wing pads) and have bright red abdomens. Freshly laid eggs are straw yellow and turn red as the embryo develops inside.
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