24 July 2024
July is certainly Bug Season!
Yesterday Mike Fialkovich sent news that it’s a big year for boxelder bugs (Boisea trivittata) where he works in New Stanton, PA.
There was a big gathering of Boxelder Bugs at my workplace today. Most were nymphs but a few adults were present. I noticed the adults were numerous recently on the side of the building but today the numbers of nymphs were impressive.
— email from Mike Fialkovich, 23 July 2024
I was a little surprised to see the swarms on non-native winged burning bush (Euonymus alatus).
As their name suggests, the boxelder bugs’ host plant is the box elder tree (Acer negundo), which is both native and abundant.
Soon these nymphs will become adults that look like this … and the bug pictured at top.
Have you seen a swarm of boxelder bugs lately? If so, leave a comment and tell me where.
I’m in Natrona Heights. I saw a mass of boxelder bugs when turning mulch in a back fence garden. Had never seen them before – there were lots of them….very near my big milkweed planting, so could it be their seed pods that interests them?
These were small – looked them up so i knew what they were, but saw your post today.
Are they going to be a problem?