Comments on: Box Elder Bug http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/ A daily photographic look at the world of insects, spiders, creepies, crawlies and critters. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:47:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: JFargo http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-992 JFargo Wed, 21 May 2008 20:21:11 +0000 http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-992 When I first saw one of these out back, I actually thought it WAS an Assassin Bug. I'm glad to hear they look similar and that I wasn't way off in my worry that I was about to get bitten by something that could bring me to my knees. I was even happier to find, of course, that it was a relatively harmless Box Elder bug when I did some research. When I first saw one of these out back, I actually thought it WAS an Assassin Bug. I’m glad to hear they look similar and that I wasn’t way off in my worry that I was about to get bitten by something that could bring me to my knees.

I was even happier to find, of course, that it was a relatively harmless Box Elder bug when I did some research.

]]> By: Insect Picture of the Day » Large Milkweed Bug http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-989 Insect Picture of the Day » Large Milkweed Bug Wed, 21 May 2008 13:02:44 +0000 http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-989 [...] of errors kind of way: he sent me a different image of this bug, which I quickly misidentified as a box elder bug. But Steve said the bug was 45mm long, which is WAY too big for a box elder, so I went back to [...] [...] of errors kind of way: he sent me a different image of this bug, which I quickly misidentified as a box elder bug. But Steve said the bug was 45mm long, which is WAY too big for a box elder, so I went back to [...]

]]> By: Kazriko http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-376 Kazriko Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:46:33 +0000 http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-376 A site I found said they don't intentionally bite, but they can puncture the skin... A site I found said they don’t intentionally bite, but they can puncture the skin…

]]> By: Kazriko http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-375 Kazriko Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:44:00 +0000 http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-375 It might be faulty memory though. I've been bitten by quite a few bugs while in Paradox, and I recall one day having a whole horde of Boxelder bugs in the yard underneath one of the trees that was there. I was examining them and I thought a couple of them bit me. I haven't seen that many in one place since then though, and that was the only time I remember being et by them. It might be faulty memory though. I’ve been bitten by quite a few bugs while in Paradox, and I recall one day having a whole horde of Boxelder bugs in the yard underneath one of the trees that was there. I was examining them and I thought a couple of them bit me. I haven’t seen that many in one place since then though, and that was the only time I remember being et by them.

]]> By: SamWibatt http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-373 SamWibatt Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:53:19 +0000 http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-373 I've never been bitten by a box elder bug - I had no idea they bit humans. I count myself lucky, then. I've always liked the little critters. There's a sort of endearing bumblingness about them. I’ve never been bitten by a box elder bug - I had no idea they bit humans. I count myself lucky, then.

I’ve always liked the little critters. There’s a sort of endearing bumblingness about them.

]]> By: tceisele http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-372 tceisele Fri, 30 Nov 2007 01:56:11 +0000 http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-372 There are apparently a bunch of Insect Zoos, mostly associated with museums of natural history. The insect keeper I mentioned was at the one in the <a href="http://www.bugfest.org/index.html" rel="nofollow">North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences"</a> [1]. A few others that look pretty good are: <a href="http://www.mnh.si.edu/museum/VirtualTour/Tour/Second/InsectZoo/index.html" rel="nofollow">National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution)</a> <a href="http://www.ent.iastate.edu/zoo/" rel="nofollow">Iowa State University Department of Entomology</a> <a href="http://www.k-state.edu/butterfly/" rel="nofollow">Kansas State University Insect Zoo</a> <a href="http://www.hmns.org/see_do/butterfly_center/insect_zoo.asp?r=1" rel="nofollow">Houston Museum of Natural Science</a> I'm sure there are lots of others. [1] I haven't actually been there, and in fact I never met the insect keeper in question face-to-face, but she did send me comments on my insect pictures from time to time. There are apparently a bunch of Insect Zoos, mostly associated with museums of natural history. The insect keeper I mentioned was at the one in the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences” [1]. A few others that look pretty good are:

National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution)

Iowa State University Department of Entomology

Kansas State University Insect Zoo

Houston Museum of Natural Science

I’m sure there are lots of others.

[1] I haven’t actually been there, and in fact I never met the insect keeper in question face-to-face, but she did send me comments on my insect pictures from time to time.

]]> By: David Brady http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-371 David Brady Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:18:15 +0000 http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-371 Insect Zoo? I need to hear lots more about this! Do they have, like, a Hemiptera House and a Lepidoptera House and a Hymenoptera Sandbox? Because, that would be so freaking cool. And I wouldn't dare set foot anywhere near it.... Insect Zoo? I need to hear lots more about this!

Do they have, like, a Hemiptera House and a Lepidoptera House and a Hymenoptera Sandbox? Because, that would be so freaking cool. And I wouldn’t dare set foot anywhere near it….

]]> By: tceisele http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-370 tceisele Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:58:04 +0000 http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-370 Regarding the bite, I was told by a keeper of an "insect zoo" that she had once seen a cicada bite (well, ok, pierce and sip) somebody, even though cicadas are strictly herbivorous. I suspect that any insect that can drill a hole into wood to suck plant juices, will also be able to bore into human flesh pretty well if they put their tiny little minds to it. Meanwhile, my daughter and I have both been handling assassin bugs pretty carelessly this year, with no bites. Go figure. Regarding the bite, I was told by a keeper of an “insect zoo” that she had once seen a cicada bite (well, ok, pierce and sip) somebody, even though cicadas are strictly herbivorous. I suspect that any insect that can drill a hole into wood to suck plant juices, will also be able to bore into human flesh pretty well if they put their tiny little minds to it.

Meanwhile, my daughter and I have both been handling assassin bugs pretty carelessly this year, with no bites. Go figure.

]]> By: David Brady http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-368 David Brady Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:06:43 +0000 http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-368 Kazriko: Really! I get such mixed reports about box elder bugs, alternating between "they are utterly harmless" and "they have a wicked painful bite". I've always felt that the red coloration was a warning color to predators, but it could also be Batesian mimicry in action. I have never been bitten by one of these, and the assassin bugs we get out here in Utah look almost EXACTLY like box elder bugs (but without any red). I guess my love for science will be put to the test next year when they come out again... Maybe I'll see if I can get one to bite me. Or maybe not: so far I have been bitten ZERO times by any bug (that I am aware of) since I launched the site (well, not counting mosquitoes). I am kind of proud of that number. :-) Kazriko: Really! I get such mixed reports about box elder bugs, alternating between “they are utterly harmless” and “they have a wicked painful bite”.

I’ve always felt that the red coloration was a warning color to predators, but it could also be Batesian mimicry in action. I have never been bitten by one of these, and the assassin bugs we get out here in Utah look almost EXACTLY like box elder bugs (but without any red).

I guess my love for science will be put to the test next year when they come out again… Maybe I’ll see if I can get one to bite me. Or maybe not: so far I have been bitten ZERO times by any bug (that I am aware of) since I launched the site (well, not counting mosquitoes). I am kind of proud of that number. :-)

]]> By: Kazriko http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-366 Kazriko Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:01:40 +0000 http://www.insectpod.com/2007/11/29/box-elder-bug/#comment-366 These are exactly like the ones we commonly see her in west colorado too. IIRC, their abdomen under their wings is also a bright red. Also IIRC, I was bitten by these a few times in Paradox. Nasty little critters. I make an effort to kick them into spider webs whenever I can. These are exactly like the ones we commonly see her in west colorado too. IIRC, their abdomen under their wings is also a bright red.

Also IIRC, I was bitten by these a few times in Paradox. Nasty little critters. I make an effort to kick them into spider webs whenever I can.

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