Natural Girl said:



I've recently noticed a lot of red bugs in my garden, so I took some
pictures of them and looked them up on google, and I'm pretty sure they
are Boxelder bugs. The thing is, I don't have any boxelders in my yard
or anywhere near me. I've read different urls about them, but was
wondering if anyone has had that problem before? From what I've read
they are pretty much harmless, they don't bite or bother the veggies, right?

Do you have any maples? Boxelders and maples are in the same plant
genus, Acer. (They may also feed on ash trees.)

Do you have any goldenrain trees? The similar red-shouldered bug likes
them.

If they are boxelder bugs, they can be annoying but aren't a problem.
In fact, they may be doing you a favor by limiting the number of viable
seeds the maples or boxelders produce--Acer seeds are their main target.

--
Pat in Plymouth MI

"Yes, swooping is bad."

email valid but not regularly monitored