Boxelder bugs are a common sight in many regions, often congregating on the sides of buildings, especially in the fall. Understanding their life cycle and diet can help in managing their presence around homes and gardens. These insects, while generally harmless to humans, can become a nuisance when they invade buildings in large numbers.
Life Cycle Stages
Boxelder bugs are hemimetabolous insects, meaning they undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Their life cycle consists of three stages:
- Egg
- Nymph
- Adult
Egg Stage
Adult boxelder bugs lay their eggs in the spring. These eggs are typically deposited inside of host trees or on their leaves. The eggs are oval-shaped and have a rust-red or red-brown color. This coloration serves as camouflage, allowing them to blend in with their host trees, providing protection from potential predators.
Nymph Stage
Nymphs emerge from the eggs approximately 10 to 14 days after they are laid. These nymphs bear a striking resemblance to the adult boxelder bugs, but they are smaller and lack fully developed wings. Throughout the summer, the nymphs undergo a series of molts as they grow and develop. During these molts, they gradually develop into adults, eventually gaining the ability to reproduce.
Adult Stage
Adult boxelder bugs are characterized by their black bodies with distinctive red or orange markings on their wings. These markings are a key identifying feature. As the weather cools in the fall, adult boxelder bugs begin to seek out sheltered locations to spend the winter, a process known as overwintering.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
Overwintering Behavior
During the winter months, boxelder bugs seek protection from the cold by overwintering. They can fly as far as two miles to find a suitable overwintering site. The pests migrate toward homes for warmth and hibernation. They gain entry through cracks in foundations, doors, and windows.
Boxelder bugs remain hidden throughout winter, but they may emerge if heat sources within a structure are sufficient. Although nymphs may be present in the fall, only fully-grown adults survive cold winters.
The bugs emerge from hibernation in early spring. This emergence coincides with the opening of buds on boxelder trees. The pests then fly to host trees where they remain active through the growing season, feeding and reproducing.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Boxelder bugs primarily feed on the sap of boxelder trees, which are their preferred host. They use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract liquids from the leaves, twigs, and seeds of these trees. While boxelder trees are their primary food source, these bugs may also feed on other plants, including maple, ash, and fruit trees.
Despite their feeding habits, boxelder bugs typically cause only minimal damage to their host trees. The extraction of sap is generally not enough to significantly harm the tree's health or growth.
Read also: Walnut Keto Guide
Encounters and Concerns
While boxelder bugs are not known to bite or sting, their presence can be a nuisance, especially when they congregate in large numbers. They often gather on the sunny sides of buildings, seeking warmth. In the fall, they may enter homes and other structures through cracks and openings in search of overwintering sites.
Once inside, they can stain fabrics and surfaces with their excrement. When crushed, they can also emit an unpleasant odor. Although they do not pose a direct threat to human health or property, their sheer numbers can be unsettling for homeowners.
Management and Control
Managing boxelder bugs involves a combination of preventive measures and, when necessary, control strategies. Sealing cracks and openings in buildings can help prevent them from entering in the fall. Removing boxelder trees from the vicinity of homes can also reduce their numbers.
In cases of severe infestations, insecticides may be used to control boxelder bug populations. However, it is important to use these products carefully and according to label instructions to minimize any potential harm to the environment or human health.
Read also: Weight Loss with Low-FODMAP