Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Hemiptera: Rhopalidae, Boisea trivittata.

The Box Elder bug does not bite, but their piercing-sucking mouth parts can sometimes puncture skin, causing slight irritation. Their droppings make quite a mess and these pests can accumulate in great numbers in your home if left unchecked.

Warm temperatures interfere with their natural cycles and biology, causing them to reproduce year-round in unwanted areas such as your home! The box elder bug is a common pest over much of the United States. These insects pests feed principally by sucking juices from the box elder tree, but are sometimes found on many other plants. In most cases, box elder bugs cause no major damage inside homes, but their droppings stain curtains and other resting sites. This bug also emits a foul odor when crushed.

Adult box elder bugs will enter homes in the Fall, seeking winter shelter often in wall voids or in attics. They will then emerge in the spring to seek out host trees on which to feed and
lay eggs.