Subject: Are These Jadera Bugs eating this mouse?
Location: Brevard, North Carolina
October 8, 2016 8:42 pm
Are these Jadera bugs eating this dead mouse?
Signature: Eric
Eastern Boxelder Bug Nymphs eat dead mouse
Dear Eric,
Though they resemble Red Shouldered Bug nymphs, Jadera haematoloma, as you can see in this BugGuide image, but these are actually Eastern Boxelder Bug nymphs, Boisea trivittata, based on this BugGuide image. According to North American Insects and Spiders: “All instars eat maple seeds; later instars are carnivorous scavengers of insect carcasses as well. All developmental stages congregate on sunny surfaces, especially wooden surfaces proximate to their food source.” Your image indicates they are opportunistic, and they will scavenge more than just insect carcasses.
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