They're everywhere this year! A flat black beetle with red outlining its
wings. About 3/4" long and about 1/4" wide. I've always had a few around
but this year- Wow! Do I have something they like to eat? or was it the
right "year" for them. Just curious- they don't seem to be eating
anything... I live in Massachusetts. Or is there a good web-site for insect
ID?

Sonya

Around here (South Central Nebraska) that would be a Box Elder Beetle.
There are always a few, but some years there are huge numbers. A diagonal
red strip on the wing cover as well as outlining.

When they get bad, and they begin swarming inside the house, I go out and
catch a praying mantis or two. Once the mantis gets used to you, they're
almost a pet, and will occasionally startly you by jumping onto your hand
when you didn't know they were there. And, best part, they catch and
consume large numbers of the beetles. A large mantis will eat 3 or 4 an
hour all day long (probably a female maturing her eggs). Anyway, that's
what we do for fun around here.

Tom Ellison

"thoranw" wrote in message
...
They're everywhere this year! A flat black beetle with red outlining its
wings. About 3/4" long and about 1/4" wide. I've always had a few around
but this year- Wow! Do I have something they like to eat? or was it the
right "year" for them. Just curious- they don't seem to be eating
anything... I live in Massachusetts. Or is there a good web-site for
insect
ID?

Sonya

That's what I have that they like- a Box Elder!
Now, where would I get a Mantis to eat them?

Sonya
"Tom Ellison" wrote in message
...
Around here (South Central Nebraska) that would be a Box Elder Beetle.
There are always a few, but some years there are huge numbers. A diagonal
red strip on the wing cover as well as outlining.

When they get bad, and they begin swarming inside the house, I go out and
catch a praying mantis or two. Once the mantis gets used to you, they're
almost a pet, and will occasionally startly you by jumping onto your hand
when you didn't know they were there. And, best part, they catch and
consume large numbers of the beetles. A large mantis will eat 3 or 4 an
hour all day long (probably a female maturing her eggs). Anyway, that's
what we do for fun around here.

Tom Ellison

"thoranw" wrote in message
...
They're everywhere this year! A flat black beetle with red outlining its
wings. About 3/4" long and about 1/4" wide. I've always had a few
around
but this year- Wow! Do I have something they like to eat? or was it the
right "year" for them. Just curious- they don't seem to be eating
anything... I live in Massachusetts. Or is there a good web-site for
insect
ID?

Sonya

In article ,
says...
That's what I have that they like- a Box Elder!
Now, where would I get a Mantis to eat them?



Unfortunately you will have better long term success
dealing with them with an axe.
--



Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

spraying soapy water on them will kill them too!!


"Tom Ellison" wrote in message
...
Around here (South Central Nebraska) that would be a Box Elder Beetle.
There are always a few, but some years there are huge numbers. A diagonal
red strip on the wing cover as well as outlining.

When they get bad, and they begin swarming inside the house, I go out and
catch a praying mantis or two. Once the mantis gets used to you, they're
almost a pet, and will occasionally startly you by jumping onto your hand
when you didn't know they were there. And, best part, they catch and
consume large numbers of the beetles. A large mantis will eat 3 or 4 an
hour all day long (probably a female maturing her eggs). Anyway, that's
what we do for fun around here.

Tom Ellison

"thoranw" wrote in message
...
They're everywhere this year! A flat black beetle with red outlining its
wings. About 3/4" long and about 1/4" wide. I've always had a few
around
but this year- Wow! Do I have something they like to eat? or was it the
right "year" for them. Just curious- they don't seem to be eating
anything... I live in Massachusetts. Or is there a good web-site for
insect
ID?

Sonya

They're everywhere this year! A flat black beetle with red outlining its
wings.

Sounds like boxelder bug. If you had a mild winter, that is probably why the
numbers have increased. See this site:
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopE...s/boxelder.htm
sed5555

If you go to Google and enter 'praying mantis cases', you will get a dozen or more offers to sell you the egg cases, from which you can hatch your own. They make wonderful neighbors, get rid of unwanted bugs, aren't noisy or smelly and don't sting. They are also kind of cute, in an outer space alien way. One individual makes a great show and tell for kindergarden and up. Mauravbs