Red & Black bug, know what it is?

Dick Shannon · 07-14-2010, 12:48 PM

I have seen several of these in my garden. Always just sitting there.

So far I don't know what they do in the garden, so I'm trying to find out if they are friend or foe.

Anyone know what it is?

Beside the photo I can say it is about 1/2 inch long. Good eyesight -- it runs around to the back of the leaf when I get close.

These photos were on pepper plants, I think I have seen it on potatoes and other things -- squash? But never caught it chewing on anything.

Thanks in advance if anyone knows. Dick

icebear · 07-14-2010, 01:31 PM

Either box elder bugs or milkweed bugs. i'm leaning toward box elder bug. they are harmless, but can be a nuisance due to sheer numbers. we had tons of them- lots of box elder trees out where i am, i never saw that they did anything but be all over the place.

beehappy · 07-14-2010, 03:48 PM

I used to think boxelder bugs wanted to eat my house every spring and fall, but they seem to be just warming themselves up on the siding. Hordes of them, as icebear says, and the don't seem to be eating anything I care about. I must admit, I don't avoid sucking them up with fall leaves using the shredder.

Dick Shannon · 08-02-2010, 07:33 PM

Thanks -- it is a Box Elder bug. They also like Sugar Maples and there are lots of them around here.

The adults aren't so bad, but in the larva stage they can do serious damage to peppers, potatoes, etc.

I've been spraying them with Neem when I see them.

beehappy · 08-03-2010, 07:19 AM

Where did you find that larvae damage peppers and potatoes?

Dick Shannon · 08-03-2010, 12:45 PM

Originally posted by beehappy:

Where did you find that larvae damage peppers and potatoes?

Well, this is embarassing.

I can't find the reference that lead me to make that statement.

Although I have seen quite a few of either adults, or nearly full grown juvenile bugs, on my peppers and potatoes I haven't experienced the damage that I blamed on them.

It appears I have slandered the Box Elder bugs, and mis-lead forum readers.

I think it's time to go check my peppers anyway . . .

beehappy · 08-03-2010, 04:05 PM

Ok, good. A couple falls ago when we moved in here we met our legions of boxelder bugs and I couldn't really find out anything too bad about them, unless they were really working over a tree we liked, which they weren't. I just thought I missed something important or you were wasting a couple of bucks of neem, either way one of us would be better off now.

They are fun to suck up with fall leaves through the shredder attachment.

MJ Hatfield · 11-11-2010, 06:40 AM

I believe this is Lygaeus kalmii, the small milkweed bug.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/439486/bgimage
(I would insert a photo with this bug side by side to a boxelder bug but I can't figure out how to attach a jpg image.)

kellysgarden · 11-11-2010, 08:29 AM

When Box Elder bugs warm themselves on the sides of your house, simply spray them with a mixture of water and dishwashing detergent.

07-14-2010, 12:48 PM	#1
Dick Shannon still learning Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Z5a, 9 mi W of Laconia NH Posts: 487	Red & Black bug, know what it is? I have seen several of these in my garden. Always just sitting there. So far I don't know what they do in the garden, so I'm trying to find out if they are friend or foe. Anyone know what it is? Beside the photo I can say it is about 1/2 inch long. Good eyesight -- it runs around to the back of the leaf when I get close. These photos were on pepper plants, I think I have seen it on potatoes and other things -- squash? But never caught it chewing on anything. Thanks in advance if anyone knows. Dick Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Dick Shannon; 07-14-2010 at 12:57 PM. Reason: photos added

07-14-2010, 01:31 PM	#2
icebear zone 5b Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Maine Posts: 33	Either box elder bugs or milkweed bugs. i'm leaning toward box elder bug. they are harmless, but can be a nuisance due to sheer numbers. we had tons of them- lots of box elder trees out where i am, i never saw that they did anything but be all over the place. __________________ ☼ Gardening Adventures on 2 tenths of an acre ☼

11-11-2010, 06:40 AM	#8
MJ Hatfield Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Rural Route Posts: 2	small milkweed bug, Lygaeus kalmii I believe this is Lygaeus kalmii, the small milkweed bug. http://bugguide.net/node/view/439486/bgimage (I would insert a photo with this bug side by side to a boxelder bug but I can't figure out how to attach a jpg image.)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

07-14-2010, 03:48 PM	#3
beehappy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NJ Zone 6 Posts: 429	I used to think boxelder bugs wanted to eat my house every spring and fall, but they seem to be just warming themselves up on the siding. Hordes of them, as icebear says, and the don't seem to be eating anything I care about. I must admit, I don't avoid sucking them up with fall leaves using the shredder.

08-02-2010, 07:33 PM	#4
Dick Shannon still learning Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Z5a, 9 mi W of Laconia NH Posts: 487	Thanks -- it is a Box Elder bug. They also like Sugar Maples and there are lots of them around here. The adults aren't so bad, but in the larva stage they can do serious damage to peppers, potatoes, etc. I've been spraying them with Neem when I see them.

08-03-2010, 07:19 AM	#5
beehappy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NJ Zone 6 Posts: 429	Where did you find that larvae damage peppers and potatoes?

08-03-2010, 04:05 PM	#7
beehappy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NJ Zone 6 Posts: 429	Ok, good. A couple falls ago when we moved in here we met our legions of boxelder bugs and I couldn't really find out anything too bad about them, unless they were really working over a tree we liked, which they weren't. I just thought I missed something important or you were wasting a couple of bucks of neem, either way one of us would be better off now. They are fun to suck up with fall leaves through the shredder attachment.

11-11-2010, 08:29 AM	#9
kellysgarden Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah, was zone 4, now zone 5 Posts: 386	When Box Elder bugs warm themselves on the sides of your house, simply spray them with a mixture of water and dishwashing detergent.