Boxelder bug is an insect that lives throughout the eastern and midwestern parts of the United States. The boxelder bug is black and measures about 1/2 inch (1.3 centimeters) long. The middle section of the body and the wings are edged with bright red lines. Boxelder bugs have slender, sucking mouthparts. They feed on the leaves, flowers, and seeds of boxelder, maple, and ash trees, but they cause little damage.
In autumn, boxelder bugs search for a warm place to spend the winter. They often settle in large numbers on the sunny side of a tree, rock, or building. Homeowners may find them on steps or foundations. Boxelder bugs do not bite and will not damage a home or its furnishings. In spring, the bugs fly back to their sources of food.
Homeowners can usually control boxelder bugs by planting only male boxelder trees. These trees produce pollen, but not the seeds that attract the bugs.
