Western Boxelder Bug
Western Boxelder Bug
Boisea rubrolineata
Insecta
UNCOMMON

Stats

Lifespan
1 year
Size
Small
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Diurnal
Social
Colony
Biome
Temperate forest
Range
North America
Movement
Flight
Breeding
Egg-laying
Defense
Warning Colors
Status
Uncommon

About

This insect lives on boxelder and maple trees across western North America. It uses a needle-like beak to pierce seeds and drink the liquid nutrients inside.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    egg
    A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
  2. 2.
    juvenile
    An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
  3. 3.
    subadult
    A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
  4. 4.
    adult
    Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hemiptera
Family
Rhopalidae
Genus
Boisea
Species
Boisea rubrolineata