i came home the other day to find these things on the outside of my house, EVERYWHERE. the were mainly around the edges of the house, close to the grass. my dad said he sprayed the lawn with some kind of insect repellent, not sure if that has anything to do with their appearance, but have a look.
http://img454.imageshack.us/img454/1733/mvc024sbo1.jpg
2006-11-08 03:46:28 · 17 answers · asked by johnny d 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
im in the east coast of us, by the way
2006-11-08 03:49:35 · update #1
As several people have already mentioned, they are box elder bugs.
They are in the same order as stink bugs, and are somewhat related. The orange colour (particularly noticeable on the wingless nymphs) is a warning intended to give predators notice that they taste horrible.
The bugs feed on the leaves of maple trees (also called box elders), and can become minor nuisances when they start moving into people's houses in the late summer and fall, looking for a place to spend the winter.
They'll bunch up in big masses in crawl spaces, attics, behind the walls, or in unused rooms and closets.
Sometimes, if it gets warm enough in winter, they'll wake up and go for a wander. For some reason, they usually wait until company is over, and then they go slowly buzzing across the room before landing on your bosses' wife's hair.
The best way to take care of them is actually a vacuum cleaner. They're perfectly harmless, and can be sucked up and disposed of with ease.
Here's some pictures http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/natural/insects/bugsfaq/boxeld.htm
2006-11-08 04:10:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
We call them a "box elder bug". The scientific name is: Leptocoris Rbrolineatus Hemiptera Rhopalidae. They are widespread across the US, the Box-elder Bug belongs to the family of scentless plant bugs. They appear in great numbers during the first warm days of spring after emerging from their winter hibernation. Their bright red coloration sometimes causes concern in the autumn when they find their way into houses looking for a suitable place to over winter. They feed on box-elder, maple and ash trees although sometimes the adults eat fruit.
2006-11-08 03:53:06 · answer #2 · answered by kc_warpaint 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yep, it's a Boxelder Bug, there quite common. This distinctive bug feeds on boxelder trees and other plants. It usually does not cause significant damage to the trees, but it will sometimes enter homes in the fall in large numbers. It is harmless to humans.
2006-11-08 06:14:20 · answer #3 · answered by uroplatis 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is a Box Elder Bug.. I have them to. They are harmless, but annoying. To get rid of them spray them and the areas they are in with Lemon Joy Dishwashing Soap and Water. Hope this helps.
2006-11-08 04:24:21 · answer #4 · answered by IC 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I live on the east cost of US as well, and have also seen them. I have also seen what looks like the same insect but totally gray. I do not know the name. This website may help:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740
2006-11-08 04:20:07 · answer #5 · answered by David S 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I live in Pennsylvania and I have seen them. I think they are relatively innocuous. Perhaps a member of the beetle family?
2006-11-08 03:56:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the UK these are called "shield bugs" (not the official latin name i know) but there are I believe quite a wise variety of this type of bug.
2006-11-08 03:48:30 · answer #7 · answered by mookvey 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well I'm not really sure... but it looks like it could be a Sam, or maybe a Bill or Joe, or possibly Betty or Irene?
2006-11-08 03:54:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
those are actually insect that usually on trees where i come from we have alot of those. they dont do anything as long they dont go inside of your house. you can pour some gasoline that tends to work all the time.
2006-11-08 03:50:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It looks like some kind of Beetle.
2006-11-08 03:55:20 · answer #10 · answered by inquiringmind 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋