Boxelder Bugs

Boxelder Bugs

Adult boxelder bugs are 1/2 inches long. They are brown-black in color with three red stripes on the thorax and red veins in the wings. They are sometimes referred to as beetles but are really “true bugs”. The nymphs are smaller and are bright red. They are fond of feeding on the leaves, twigs, and seeds of female boxelder trees. They will also feed on maple, ash and the young fruit of grapes, apples, and plums.