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Box Elder Bugs

On · Category: Box Elder Bugs · 2 Comments

WHAT KIND OF BUGS ARE THESE??? THEY ARE BLACK WITH TWO RED STRIPES ON THE WINGS AND THEY LOOK LIKE A FIREFLY. WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY ARE A TYPE OF BEETLE, BUT ARE UNABLE TO FIND THEM IN ANY BOOK. THEY ARE COMING FROM A ROTTING ELM TREE. THERE IS ALSO WATER DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE IF THIS HELPS IDENTIFY THEM

Dear Stat,
Without more concrete information regarding size and orientation of the stripes, vertical versus horizontal, it would be difficult to identify your bug. Wood boring beetles are often of the longhorn variety, and though they are not true beetles, the box elder bug (Leptocoris trivittatus) might be your culprit, but they eat leaves, not rotting wood. Rove beetles look like fireflies, but their wings are hidden. They might lurk around rotting wood, searching for soft succulent prey. Can you send a photo?

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2 Responses to Box Elder Bugs

  1. rhonda deaton says:
    October 10, 2013 at 10:08 am

    I have literally millions of these on all of my trees, including maples. Are these harmful to a house structure? As we have now found them on the doorways of our home, as well as our wooden deck. We have had terminix out to spray, but they continue to remain. They are also in mounds close to our house. I have also identified a totally red one. Is that the queen or do these bugs have queens like ants? I would like to know as much about these bugs as I can find out. Thank You.

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