Subject: What is this bug?
Location: Ottawa Canada
March 27, 2013 6:11 pm
I started to see these bugs last year. They start out as tiny pin head size bugs that are totally red. There are thousands in a nest which looks like a moving bunch of red dots. As they grow they start to become black untill they are mostly black with a little red. They also can fly. They were everywhere in the fall. Thousands of them all over my house and I saw a lot of nests on my property. They seem to be harmless as they will walk on you and not bite. The only bother is the sheer number and now that spring has come, they seem to be coming from nowhere. I am just curious as I have never seen this bug in my life. They seem to be about 1/2” full grown, six legs and two antenna. Thanks.
Signature: Harry Van Hofwegen

Our Automated Response
Thank you for submitting your identification request.
Please understand that we have a very small staff that does this as a labor of love. We cannot answer all submissions (not by a long shot). But we’ll do the best we can.

Hello:
Thanks for your email.  Crazy thing, but I have looked for a long time and I just stumbled on an image of this bug so I just figured it out.  It is a Boxelder bug.  I have never seen them around my home ever until last year and now I have thousands of them.  I appreciate you guys and the work you do for people.  I hope they will leave soon because they are annoying.
Cheers,
Harry

Eastern Boxelder Bug

Hi Harry,
We are happy to hear you quickly identified your Eastern Boxelder Bug once you discovered our site.  We have numerous postings of the aggregations the Eastern Boxelder Bugs form, especially in late summer and autumn.  They feed on the seeds of boxelder trees and other maples, so we assume you have a large maple tree or trees near your home.  Boxelder Bugs also enter homes in the fall to hibernate.  Boxelder Bugs often have isolated populations that are very numerous, but several hundred feet away, they are noticeable absent.  Their populations might also fluctuate greatly from year to year.  We suspect if the conditions are right for them in your yard, they are most likely there to stay.  We will be away from the office for a few days for the holidays, so we are postdating your submission to go live later in the week.

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Subject: What kind of bug?
Location: Illinois
March 10, 2013 3:22 am
These bugs are overwhelming us. What can we do to get rid of them? Seem to be attracted to wood.
Signature: Sandy Berg

Eastern Boxelder Bug

Dear Sandy,
Eastern Boxelder Bugs or Democrat Bugs, Boisea trivittata, often enter homes in great numbers to hibernate.  The best way to safeguard against this is to weatherproof your home and eliminate any small cracks and gaps where they can gain entry.

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Subject: Critters wandering around my house
Location: Washington, DC
January 21, 2013 3:06 pm
We recently moved into a new condo in Washington, DC, and are seeing these little critters (I shan’t say ”bug” until I hear from the bugman!) wandering around. I scoop them onto paper and put them out the window without issue.
I think they’ve been coming in through cracks or unscreened windows left open, though it’s a bit odd that I’m not seeing any other types of visitors.
They seem harmless, but I’d like to know more!
Signature: CreatureWatcher

Eastern Boxelder Bug

Dear CreatureWatcher,
This is an Eastern Boxelder Bug, Boisea trivittata, a species sometimes called a Democrat Bug because they tend to aggregate in large numbers in sunny locations, a habit that some folks have likened to political gatherings.  Eastern Boxelder Bugs are True Bugs, so you may refer to them as bugs.  We suspect you are finding them indoors because when the weather cools, Boxelder Bug, like many other True Bugs, seek shelter indoors to hibernate.  When things warm up, they become active and try to find egress to the outdoors again.  It seems very appropriate that these Democrat Bugs made an appearance on Inauguration Day.

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Subject: Eastern Boxelder Bugs
Location: Northeast Alabama
November 11, 2012 4:36 pm
Found these bugs on and around this tree in my yard. thought I would share.
Signature: Samuel

Boxelder Bugs aggregate on a tree trunk

Dear Samuel,
The bark on this tree resembles that of a maple.  Do you know if the tree is a maple?  We also suspect this spot on the bark faces south and it might get late afternoon sun, though there was very flat lighting at the time your photo was taken.  Boxelder Bugs are sometimes called Democrat Bugs, and it would be interesting to see if there is any correlation to the parts of the country where Democrat Bug is used and the party makeup of the inhabitants there.

Democrat Bugs Congregate

Don’t know the type of tree it is. The spot on the bark does face the south.

Boxelder Bugs

Thanks Samuel,
We took a closer look at your third photo, which up until now we had not posted, and some of the leaves on the ground appear to be maple.  Other leaves look like Oak.  To the best of our knowledge, the food source for this species are seeds of boxelder and other maple trees.

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Subject: Is this a democrat bug?
Location: Springfield Missouri
September 29, 2012 8:59 am
I can’t tell from the picture on your website if this is an eastern box… bug I would just like a confirmation. These were found outside of my workplace in downtown Springfield Missouri.
Signature: CuriousKids

Eastern Boxelder Bugs

Dear CuriousKids,
Your identification is correct.  This is an aggregation of Eastern Boxelder Bugs which are sometimes called Democrat Bugs.  Your individuals are all immature nymphs, though at various stages of development or instars.  Adult Eastern Boxelder Bugs have black wings with some red veins.  Sightings this year have been plentiful.

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Subject: Box Elder Bug Aggregation?
Location: Lake County, IL
September 25, 2012 1:03 pm
Thank you for this great site!
Recently, I found piles, and individuals, of these red and black bugs on a trail around the Volo Bog (IL).
They were most often seen en masse on bird/animal droppings.
Signature: LSchiele

Eastern Boxelder Bugs

Dear LSchiel,
Though we have no dearth of new postings of Eastern Boxelder Bugs on our website at the moment, we are fascinated by your report that you found them feeding on bird and animal droppings.  They were most likely extracting fluids since they have mouths designed for sucking.  Your photograph includes a seed that appears to be a maple “helicopter” and that would indicate that the typical food of the Eastern Boxelder Bug is present in Volo Bog.

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