Summary ⁷

The boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata) is a North American species of true bug. It is found primarily on boxelder trees, as well as maple and ash trees. The adults are about 12.5 millimetres (0.49 in) long with a dark brown or black coloration, relieved by red wing veins and markings on the abdomen; nymphs are bright red.

Description ⁸

Entirely black in color except for the eyes, sides and center line of pronotum, margins of corium, coxae, and posterior ends of abdominal segments, which are all red.

Habitat ⁹

During spring and summer, boxelder bugs reside on boxelder trees, maple trees, and ash trees. Boxelder bugs usually live in deciduous and mixed forests and meadows. In late fall, boxelder bugs seek shelter for hibernation. Shelters often include buildings and windows around ground floors. They are found gathering in areas of sun because they prefer higher temperatures. This leads them to cluster on the south and west sides of buildings, where the surfaces are heated by sunlight. When not overwintering in or around buildings, boxelder bugs seek shelter under the bark of trees.

Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest

Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; agricultural

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Darrin OBrien, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/79039057@N00/1072175026
2. (c) benet2006, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8428/7818736552_0f9ec05535_o.jpg
3. (c) Picasa, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PPgU8KwovAk/UVS0ZEzNfXI/AAAAAAAAChQ/5wPE2oyZW3g/IMG_1199.JPG
4. (c) Charlie Hohn, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Charlie Hohn
5. no rights reserved, uploaded by Kent McFarland
6. (c) Anita, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://farm1.staticflickr.com/45/141909621_d6f3ac9413_o.jpg
7. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boisea_trivittata
8. (c) Scott Carroll/soapberrybug.org, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/11987639
9. (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31380706

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• BG Info Page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• CalPhotos
• Catalogue of Palaearctic Heteroptera
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0

Range Map

(c) Discover Life and original sources, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)

iNat Map