Box Elder Bugs By: Layne Nadig & Jesse Park.

Physical Description Box elder bugs are a half inch long they are black with red of orange marking. They can be seen at any given time in the summer. They have wings that makes an x on their backs and two long antennas.

What brings them to my plants. Box elders comes to my plants for breeding purposes and because they just came out of hibernation.

Do they damage plants. They remove plant fluids from newly developed leaves that may result in distortion of the foliage. They damage flowers, tender twigs, and seeds of box elders.

What plants do they affect. They affect flowers and box elder trees. They do it in the spring.

What are the symptoms. The leaves and plants lose there colors.

How to prevent them. Mix 1-2TB of dish soap to a standard size spray bottle filled with water and apply to box elder bugs as you see them.

How to control a infestation. To control a infestation you must get rid of the host plant. You also need to seal cracks around the green house.