Q. I found 50 to 100 of
red and black beetles running around the rocks in my yard while I was pulling
weeds. If these numbers are representative, I must have thousands. A friend
thinks they may be Boxelder Bugs but I don’t have any Boxelder trees in my yard.
The pictures of Boxelder Bugs online are similar but do not look exactly like
these. So what are they and should I declare war on them and begin spraying?
red and black beetles running around the rocks in my yard while I was pulling
weeds. If these numbers are representative, I must have thousands. A friend
thinks they may be Boxelder Bugs but I don’t have any Boxelder trees in my yard.
The pictures of Boxelder Bugs online are similar but do not look exactly like
these. So what are they and should I declare war on them and begin spraying?
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| Western boxelder bug |
A. I was confused at first
when I first saw these same bugs because I also thought they were Boxelder Bugs.
But they acted differently from those back East. In fact, they are Boxelder
Bugs. There are Eastern and Western Boxelder bugs. They look similar but are slightly
different from each other.
when I first saw these same bugs because I also thought they were Boxelder Bugs.
But they acted differently from those back East. In fact, they are Boxelder
Bugs. There are Eastern and Western Boxelder bugs. They look similar but are slightly
different from each other.
In the East these critters prefer trees like Boxelder,
Maple and Ash. There they are more of a nuisance to homeowners than a problem.
In the Western United States, they are thought of the same way; more of a
nuisance than a problem. But they can pose a problem with fruit trees and in backyard
orchards if their numbers are high enough.
Maple and Ash. There they are more of a nuisance to homeowners than a problem.
In the Western United States, they are thought of the same way; more of a
nuisance than a problem. But they can pose a problem with fruit trees and in backyard
orchards if their numbers are high enough.
Here they may feed and associate with ash trees in
landscapes but we see them in backyard orchards as well, particularly if mulch,
either wood or rock, is used to cover the soil surface. They stay alive during
the winter by finding some cozy place to congregate in the mulch when it is
cold. It is here they “hibernate” until warm weather and food reappears.
landscapes but we see them in backyard orchards as well, particularly if mulch,
either wood or rock, is used to cover the soil surface. They stay alive during
the winter by finding some cozy place to congregate in the mulch when it is
cold. It is here they “hibernate” until warm weather and food reappears.
 |
They
can be a nuisance in fruit trees, and possibly damage young and older fruit, by
their feeding. They feed on plants the same way as squash bugs, leaf footed
plant bugs and stinkbugs. They suck plant juices out of soft tissues, leaf and
fruit (the softer the better), with a long hypodermic needle-like mouthpart.
Seems awkward to have but they tuck it across their belly when it’s not being
used.
can be a nuisance in fruit trees, and possibly damage young and older fruit, by
their feeding. They feed on plants the same way as squash bugs, leaf footed
plant bugs and stinkbugs. They suck plant juices out of soft tissues, leaf and
fruit (the softer the better), with a long hypodermic needle-like mouthpart.
Seems awkward to have but they tuck it across their belly when it’s not being
used.
When they find leaves or immature fruit for feeding they
pull out it out like a drilling rig and stick it in soft leaves or fruit. The
feeding punctures and damages soft plant tissue. Sometimes it can be
responsible for some disease problems. Expanding leaves become deformed and
fruits dimpled as they grow. If the attack is severe or the attacked part very
young, the leaf or fruit may drop from the plant.
pull out it out like a drilling rig and stick it in soft leaves or fruit. The
feeding punctures and damages soft plant tissue. Sometimes it can be
responsible for some disease problems. Expanding leaves become deformed and
fruits dimpled as they grow. If the attack is severe or the attacked part very
young, the leaf or fruit may drop from the plant.
Their damage is most noticeable in pears, apples, plums,
peaches and almonds. They normally don’t create noticeable damage to ornamental
trees or shrubs so we ignore them. Spraying chemicals is not worth the benefit
or environmental trade-off unless their levels are sufficiently high and the damage
is causing problems.
peaches and almonds. They normally don’t create noticeable damage to ornamental
trees or shrubs so we ignore them. Spraying chemicals is not worth the benefit
or environmental trade-off unless their levels are sufficiently high and the damage
is causing problems.
Actually, your second picture is of Small Milkweed Bugs — Lygaeus kalmii. The white spots on the wings are diagnostic.
Thank you!