The boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata) is a North American species of true bug….Boxelder bug.

Boxelder bugs are nuisance pests. They do not sting or transmit disease, and are generally not known to bite, though there are rare reports of defensive biting. Boxelder bugs are not known to cause damage to homes or significant damage to plants. However, their feces can stain light colored surfaces.

Boxelder bugs (Boisea trivittatus) are insects native to the western U.S. They can become a major nuisance in the late summer and fall when they seek out sites for overwintering. These insects are sometimes called box elder beetles and maple bugs.

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Sage, whole cloves and lavender are easy to come by, and bugs hate the smell of them.

Like many bugs, however, box elder bugs are deterred by the smell of vinegar. Use this natural ingredient as a homemade repellent to help staunch the flow of bugs and reduce or eliminate their numbers in your house.

What Eats Boxelder Bugs? These bugs excrete a bad smelling (and presumably bad tasting) liquid when bothered, so not many prey insects or other animals eat them. There is some evidence that rodents such as chipmunks, rats and mice may eat them, especially in the winter when other foods are scarce.

What Do Boxelder Bugs Look Like? Adult boxelder bugs have a body shape that is a somewhat-flattened and elongated oval and is about half an inch long. They have six legs and two antennae that are typically half of their body length. Nymphs look similar to adults but lack wings and are bright red in color.

Can Boxelder Bugs Damage Farm Crops? Boxelder bugs are generally not considered a farm pest. Even when they do target fruit trees and berry plants, the damage is generally considered cosmetic. Grapes, for example, may see some bruising but they are still edible for people.

If you’re seeing boxelders around your home constantly, it’s probably because they’re getting food nearby. Boxelders feed almost exclusively on the seeds of boxelder, maple, and ash trees. Once they find a good food source, they’ll spend all summer feeding off of it and mating nearby.

between 160-180˚F

Sure, they suck the juices out of leaves and the developing seeds of boxelder and maple trees, but they don’t siphon enough out to actually hurt the trees.

The boxelder is great for pollinators since its flowers bloom early. This tree is fantastic for preventing erosion near waterways in that it grows very well — and quickly — near streams and in wet soils. These maples lower their limbs with ease, which in turn provides shelter for small animals on the ground.

Box elder (Acer negundo) Box elder trees are widespread throughout North America and found in and surrounding many pastures. The seeds pose a serious and often fatal threat to horses. The toxic dose is not yet well-defined, but ingestion of as few as 165 seeds could cause toxicosis.

Boxelder is unusual for a maple tree, featuring compound leaves that are ash-colored, thick twigs that transform from powder blue to purple-green as the season progresses and roundish buds. This maple tree has a brown bark trunk and its lumber is distinctively softer, weaker and lighter than the majority of maples.

The females bear blossoms that turn bright green when they are pollinated. They can add color to your spring garden. However, most experts do not recommend that gardeners begin boxelder maple tree growing, nor are they very popular garden plants.

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N) Ash-leaf maple or box elder is usually a small to medium-sized tree, 35-50 ft. tall, commonly with a short trunk and widely spreading branches and light green foliage.

Box elder is a low density hardwood that burns more like a softwood. Box elder firewood is mediocre at best. It burns fine but it burns quickly. Box elder firewood is good for starting fires and makes decent kindling.

Box Elder Firewood. Box elder is a low density hardwood that burns more like a softwood. Box elder firewood is mediocre at best. It burns fine but it burns quickly.

Boxelder, Acer negundo, is sometimes identified by a red stain in the wood. The color of the stain can range from light pink to dark red. When exposed to the light, the color of the stain fades over time. It has been reported that the stain is caused by the infection of the fungus Fusarium reticulatum.