Insect identification - Ask Extension
We started seeing these insects in one part of our garden last year, and now they seem to be everywhere. Could you tell me what these are and the best...
Knowledgebase
Insect identification #842198
Asked July 23, 2023, 6:32 PM EDT
We started seeing these insects in one part of our garden last year, and now they seem to be everywhere. Could you tell me what these are and the best way to get rid of them? Thank you for any information you can provide.
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Sue and thanks for your picture of a Western Boxelder Bug nymph (immature stage). Yes, they ARE prolific and you will probably recognize the adults when they appear. They feed on boxelders, but also maples and ash trees and apples, pears, grapes, peaches, plums and cherries when their populations are large.
They are more of a nuisance than harmful but you can vacuum them up if they get in your house. They have very few predators since they leave an odor if they are squished but spiders and some rodents will eat them.
If you want to know more about them, the following article will explain the life cycle. You can use chemicals containing the following ingredients but follow the directions carefully:
acephate
acetamiprid S (this means the chemical is Systemic to the plant)
carbaryl
esfenvalerate
imidacloprid S
fluvalinate
malathion
pyrethrins O (this means the chemical is considered Organic)
pyrethroids P(this means it is a broad spectrum chemical and will kill many types of insects)
thiamethoxam
https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/hort/landscape/hosts-pests-landscape-plants/boxelder-acer-negundo-western-boxelder-bug
Or you can just live with them and know that they won't survive the winter outside your house in their adult form.
They are more of a nuisance than harmful but you can vacuum them up if they get in your house. They have very few predators since they leave an odor if they are squished but spiders and some rodents will eat them.
If you want to know more about them, the following article will explain the life cycle. You can use chemicals containing the following ingredients but follow the directions carefully:
acephate
acetamiprid S (this means the chemical is Systemic to the plant)
carbaryl
esfenvalerate
imidacloprid S
fluvalinate
malathion
pyrethrins O (this means the chemical is considered Organic)
pyrethroids P(this means it is a broad spectrum chemical and will kill many types of insects)
thiamethoxam
https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/hort/landscape/hosts-pests-landscape-plants/boxelder-acer-negundo-western-boxelder-bug
Or you can just live with them and know that they won't survive the winter outside your house in their adult form.
Dear Rhonda,
Thank you for the identification and information. I’m glad to hear that, though they are so plentiful, they aren’t too harmful. There are so many it would probably not be possible to eradicate them all, but maybe I can thin them out a bit.
Thanks again,
