Boxelder Bug

The box elder bug can reach 11mm in length. It is dark brown/black with 3 red strips on its thorax, including red veins on the wings. Nymphs are smaller and predominantly bright red in colour. 

The adults overwinter in dry, protected locations. As the warmer weather of Spring approaches, they become more active and bask in sunny locations. They will then continue this behaviour, slowly congregating at trees where they begin to feed. Primarily boxelder trees, maples and some other fruit bearing trees such as apple trees. They use their piercing mouthparts to feed on leaves, twigs, seeds and other fruit from trees even including the dead carcasses of honey bees. After about two weeks of feeding, the young nymphs begin to hatch, usually coinciding with the first leaves of Spring. They moult 5 times before becoming adults, exhibiting incomplete metamorphosis.