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

Associations ¹⁰

Boxelder bugs are primarily folivores. It is thought that the red markings on the back of boxelder bugs warns prey that they are distasteful. However, they are still prey to some grasshoppers, rodents, birds, praying mantises, and spiders. They feed mostly on seeds or trees, but do not cause harm to the trees or environment within which they feed. Trees that host boxelder bugs include bigtooth maples (Acer grandidentatum), boxelder maples (Acer negundo), silver maples (Acer saccharinum), trident maples (Acer buergerianum), and wingleaf soapberries (Sapindus saponaria). Adult boxelder bugs are host to many parasitic flagellates in the intestinal tract. Specifically, Endolimax leptocoridis is an amoeba that was confirmed to reside in the alimentary canal of both adults and nymphs. Entamoeba polypodia are amoebae that were found in the ventriculus, intestine, and anus of some nymphs.

Species Used as Host:

• bigtooth maples (Acer grandidentatum)
• boxelder maples (Acer negundo)
• silver maples (Acer saccharinum)
• trident maples (Acer buergerianum)
• wingleaf soapberries (Sapindus saponaria)

Commensal/Parasitic Species:

• amoebas (Endolimax leptocoridis)
• amoebas (Entamoeba polypodia)

Ecology ¹¹

Hosts: Acer grandidentatum (Bigtooth Maple), Acer negundo (Box Elder or Maple Ash), Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple, River Maple, or Soft Maple), Acer buergerianum (Trident Maple), and Sapindus saponaria (Soapberry)

Behaviour ¹²

Adults and nymphs have a pair of scent glands located on the dorsal side of the abdomen that secrete monterpene hydrocarbons and may be used for communication. Boxelder bugs also have a pair of ventral abdominal scent glands through which males secrete an exocrine compound during copulation to stimulate or claim the female. It is speculated that males also use this secretion during confrontations with other males. Males are attracted to the odor secreted by females. Boxelder bugs have compound eyes and ocelli, which are believed to aid in perception of the environment along with antennae, the primary sense organs. There are no acoustic or vibrational signals used for communication.

Communication Channels: chemical

Other Communication Modes: pheromones ; scent marks

Perception Channels: visual ; chemical

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Darrin OBrien, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/79039057@N00/1072175026
2. (c) Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://animaldiversity.org/collections/contributors/phil_myers/hemiptera/boxelder1314/medium.jpg
3. (c) Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://animaldiversity.org/collections/contributors/phil_myers/hemiptera/boxelder_bug1/medium.jpg
4. (c) Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://animaldiversity.org/collections/contributors/phil_myers/hemiptera/boxelder_bug3/medium.jpg
5. (c) Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://animaldiversity.org/collections/contributors/phil_myers/hemiptera/boxelder_bugs2/medium.jpg
6. (c) Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, , Bugwood.org, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/41518.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
10. (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31380714
11. (c) Scott Carroll/soapberrybug.org, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/11987641
12. (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31380711

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)

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