Black and orange bugs are a common sight in many backyards and gardens. This eye-catching color combination can be found on a variety of insect species, including beetles, true bugs, and more. While some black and orange bugs are beneficial, others can be crop pests or nuisance invaders. This guide will help you identify some of the most frequently encountered black and orange bugs and understand their habits.
Why Are Some Bugs Black and Orange?
The bold black and orange coloring seen on many bugs serves as a warning signal to potential predators By being so brightly colored, these insects advertise the fact that they may have chemical defenses, like toxins in their bodies, that make them unpalatable. The bright aposematic coloration helps predators learn to avoid certain insects Of course, some black and orange bugs merely mimic this coloration, even if they themselves are harmless.
Common Black and Orange True Bugs
In the bug world “true bugs” refers to insects in the order Hemiptera. Unlike beetles true bugs have piercing, sucking mouthparts designed for feeding on plant juices or animal fluids. Here are some of the most widespread true bugs with black and orange coloration
Boxelder Bugs
The boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata) is very common across North America. This species earned its name because it feeds primarily on boxelder trees, especially the seeds. Boxelder bugs are mostly black, but have prominent reddish-orange or yellow markings on their wings and abdomen.
As a nuisance invader, boxelder bugs often enter homes in the fall seeking sheltered spots to overwinter. They don’t do any structural damage, but can stain curtains or upholstery with their orange fecal spots. Sealing cracks around windows and doors is the best prevention method.
Milkweed Bugs
Two species of milkweed bugs, the large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) and small milkweed bug (Lygaeus kalmii) rely on milkweed plants for food and shelter. They have flattened, oval-shaped orange bodies with distinctive black markings. The large milkweed bug has an X-shaped black pattern, while the small milkweed bug has black stripes and spots.
Though milkweed bugs can damage these plants by feeding on their seeds, they usually don’t require control. Tolerance or hand picking may be the best options in home gardens.
Harlequin Bugs
The harlequin bug (Murgantia histrionica) is an eye-catching pest of brassica vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale. It has a yellow-orange and black checked pattern on its wings. Harlequin bugs use piercing-sucking mouthparts to damage plants by feeding on their juices. Insecticidal soaps or neem oil sprays can help manage infestations on food crops.
Two-lined Spittlebugs
Two-lined spittlebugs (Prosapia bicincta) are very common in the eastern United States. As their name implies, these sap-sucking bugs have two prominent orange lines running across their otherwise black wings. Spittlebugs produce the frothy spittle masses on plants that give them their common name. They occasionally damage garden plants but are more of a nuisance than a severe threat.
Common Black and Orange Beetles
While true bugs belong to the order Hemiptera, beetles are classified in the incredibly diverse order Coleoptera. Here are some of the most widespread beetles with black and orange coloration:
Ladybugs
Ladybugs are probably the most popular black and orange bugs. The convergent lady beetle (Hippodamia convergens) is the most abundant native ladybug species in North America. It has a domed, oval orange body with six black spots on each reddish wing cover. Other ladybugs have different spot patterns, like the multicolored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis).
Ladybugs are highly beneficial predators of soft-bodied insect pests like aphids. In home gardens, they help naturally suppress pests without the need for pesticide sprays.
Soldier Beetles
Soldier beetles like the Pennsylvania leatherwing (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus) have elongated, relatively soft orange bodies. They get their common name from their tough exoskeletons and leathery-looking wings. Most species are beneficial predators as larvae and pollinators as adults. Though they don’t require any management, avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides will help conserve their populations.
Blister Beetles
Blister beetles like Epicauta species have long, narrow bodies with alternating black and orange stripes. The orange areas often have a softer, yellow-orange hue. Blister beetles get their common name from a chemical called cantharidin in their bodies, which can cause blistering of the skin. Though they can damage vegetable crops, they also provide benefits like pollination.
Asparagus Beetles
The spotted asparagus beetle (Crioceris duodecimpunctata) is a pest of asparagus as an adult and larva. It has a red body with six distinctive black spots on each wing cover. The related asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi) is mostly blue-black with red-orange markings. Monitor plants for early infestations and handpick the beetles to prevent crop damage.
Look-Alike Bugs: Mimics and Relatives
Some additional bugs copy the black and orange appearance as a form of mimicry to fool predators into avoiding them. Others simply share the same warning coloration because they are closely related species. Here are a few examples:
- Fire-colored beetles (Neopyrochroa species) strongly resemble soldier beetles, with elongated orange bodies and darker markings
- The prince basketflower beetle (Acanthoscelides alboscutellatus) is a bruchid bean beetle mimicking the coloration of blister beetles
- Coreid leaf-footed bugs like Acanthocephala species are true bugs with black bodies and orange legs and antennae
- The Carolina leaf-roller weevil (Anthonomus carolinensis) is a small orange and black beetle pest of fruit trees
Benefits of Black and Orange Bugs vs. Pest Problems
As this guide shows, black and orange coloration appears on a wide diversity of insect species, from pestiferous plant bugs to helpful lady beetles. Carefully identifying bugs by their physical characteristics and habits can provide clues to whether they are more likely to be beneficial or problematic in your garden.
With pest bugs, tolerance of minor damage or selective management tactics like handpicking may be the best approach. Preserving beneficial predatory and pollinating black and orange beetles should also be a priority. Their natural pest control services are invaluable assets to gardens and landscapes.
Habitat, Diet, and Life Cycle
These seasonal pests are found primarily on boxelder trees as well as other maples and ashes. However, they are also known to gather on home exteriors on sunny days and overwinter indoors.
Boxelder bugs feed on the seed pods of their host trees and other similar species by sucking the sap out of them. From time to time, these pests will also feed on fruit trees, including cherry, plum, peach, and apple.
Overwintering adult boxelder bugs emerge in the spring and deposit red, oval-shaped eggs on the leaves and bark of host trees. These hatch into nymphs that immediately start feeding on seeds, foliage, twigs, and fruit. Nymphs develop through a series of molts before reaching adulthood and begin reproducing immediately. It is the second generation of adults that will overwinter and emerge the next season.
Boxelder bugs, also known as maple bugs, primarily suck the sap out of the seed pods of female boxelder trees, but have been known to infest maple and ash trees, as well as fruit trees, including cherry, plum, peach, and apple.
On sunny days, boxelder bugs gather on home exteriors (usually on the south side where the most there is the most sun), while in the winter, they seek warmth and food in wood piles, inside barns and sheds, or around window casements, gaining entry through gaps around foundations, open vents, and unscreened windows and doors.
These boxelder bugs emerge in spring to lay red, oval-shaped eggs that will hatch into nymphs, which will immediately start feeding on seeds, foliage, twigs, and fruit.
Boxelder bugs do not bite or cause structural damage to homes, but are a nuisance because they invade in large numbers. The bugs also inflict cosmetic damage to trees, leaving behind speckled leaves and scarred fruit.
Crushed boxelder bugs emit a foul odour and can stain structures, while their excrement can stain draperies, furniture, and other linens. Dead bugs can also attract other insects, such as carpet beetles.
Because boxelder bugs infest in such overwhelming numbers, it’s crucial to get help from a professional pest control service to apply exterior perimeter treatments effectively and safely.
How to prevent Boxelder bugs from invading
Gaps around foundations, open vents, and unscreened windows and doors can provide easy access into homes for these pests. Seal these and other entry points to make it more difficult for boxelder bugs to get indoors. Removing any female boxelder trees from the property or choosing male trees when landscaping and planting may help homeowners avoid future problems.
Boxelder Bugs – What they are, how to get rid of them
FAQ
What are these orange and black bugs?
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Identification:Boxelder bugs are small, about half an inch long, with a flattened, oval-shaped body. They have black bodies with orange or reddish-orange around the edges of their thorax and wings.
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They are a type of “true bug” and feed on soft plant parts, using their beak-like mouthparts to suck liquid from leaves, flowers, and younger branches.
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They are often found on boxelder trees, but can also be found on other trees like maple and ash.
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Boxelder bugs are sometimes confused with stink bugs, but they are a different species. Stink bugs also have orange and black markings, but are larger and have a shield-shaped body.
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Harlequin bugs are another type of stink bug that are brightly colored insects with distinctive orange and black markings.
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Boxelder Bugs in Homes:Boxelder bugs are often found in homes, especially in the fall and spring, seeking shelter from the cold.
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To prevent boxelder bugs from entering your home, seal cracks and crevices around windows and doors, and remove any boxelder trees or other trees that may be attracting them.
Are boxelder bugs harmful?
- Not Harmful to Humans or Pets: Boxelder bugs do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases.
- No Structural Damage: They don’t cause damage to homes or structures.
- Nuisance Indoors: They may be a nuisance indoors, especially in the fall and spring, as they seek shelter from the cold and warm up, potentially causing a mess with their droppings and a foul odor when squashed.
- Stains: Their feces can stain light-colored surfaces.
- Management: To manage boxelder bugs, focus on preventing them from entering your home by sealing cracks and crevices, and vacuuming or sweeping them up if they do get inside.
- Not Dangerous to Plants: They primarily feed on the seeds of boxelder, maple, and ash trees, and don’t cause significant damage to plants.
- Hemolymph: When threatened or crushed, boxelder bugs release a chemical called hemolymph, which can be harmful to dogs if ingested, potentially causing gastrointestinal upset, drooling, or mild irritation.
Why do boxelder bugs suddenly appear?
Boxelder bugs tend to have high populations during hot, dry summers (records show their populations skyrocketed during the Dust Bowl in the 1930s), meaning a …Jul 18, 2023
What attracts boxelder bugs?
- Food Source: Boxelder bugs primarily feed on the seeds and soft parts of boxelder, maple, and ash trees.
- Host Trees: These trees serve as both a food source and a breeding ground for boxelder bugs.
- Warmth and Shelter: As temperatures drop in the fall, boxelder bugs seek out warm places, often congregating on buildings, especially those with southern or western exposure, where the sun can warm the surfaces.
- Entering Homes: They may enter homes through cracks, gaps, and openings in walls, doors, and windows, seeking shelter from the cold.
- Other Attractants: They are also drawn to warm rocks and trees where the sun shines.
- House Plants: Boxelder bugs may also be attracted to houseplants in search of hydration.
Are black and orange bugs common?
Black and orange bugs are a common site throughout North American, resulting in us receiving many inquiries into them. The listing below showcases common insects with the colors Black and Orange associated with them and found throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
What do black and orange bugs eat?
Black and orange bugs are common in North America and The Caribbean. These types of bugs can suck plant sap or even eat other bugs. Found across a few different species, the black and orange color combination can sometimes signal potentially-poisonous bugs.
Are black and orange bugs poisonous?
Black and orange bugs, common in North America and The Caribbean, can sometimes signal potentially-poisonous bugs. These bugs can suck plant sap or even eat other bugs, and are found across a few different species.
What is a black and orange assassin bug?
The most common black and orange bug in North America, the orange assassin bug (Pselliopus barberi), has a bright orange color with yellow-golden undertones. It is an assassin bug, meaning it feeds on insects and uses ambush tactics with its legs banded in black and orange.
How can you identify if a bug is orange?
To identify if a bug is orange, look for orange coloring in the form of a band just behind its head. These bugs, typically around 10-12mm in size with a black body and 3 pairs of legs, also exhibit orange colors further down on the dorsum, but these colors darken to black as the bug ages.
What color does the bug’s orange turn as it ages?
The orange coloring darkens to a black color as the bug ages. It grows to a maximum size of 10-12mm and it can be identified by its black body with 3 pairs of legs. The orange coloring is present in the form of a band just behind its head.