Biology whizzes! Can you identify this housebug -- about 1/2 inch in length?

[Radio_Lady]

We find them in our house, but not sure what they are.

Last year, I learned about ladybugs. (No, this isn't a ladybug.)

Any information gathered here would be appreciated. We are not using any pesticides inside our home, but it might be good to know what we can about this little guy/gal!

Peace, love and happiness,

Radio Lady in Oregon

[MountainLaurel]

1. Box elder bug

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_elder_bug

[Radio_Lady]

2. Hey, you got it! Thank so much! They really are quite beautiful!

[Radio_Lady]

3. MountainLaurel, I just peeked at your livejournal link...

I loved this one!

Hope the music of "spousal hammering" is now over!

[MountainLaurel]

5. Not until August

We just moved, and Mr. Laurel will be building new cabinets and bookshelves in our house until he starts law school.

[Radio_Lady]

14. "It's so nice to have a-man-a 'round the house..." Do you even remember that song?

The song was was adapted for the Amana refrigerator commercial! Is that brand still being made?

Verily I say unto you... I am going to be 69 years old on Saturday, May 31. I probably have PURSES AND SHOES older than most of the people on this site!

Yes... my husband is very handy with carpentry, but we've never attempted cabinets and bookshelves. He put together a little shop in our garage and he's frequently out there doing something. Now, he helps the grandchildren with their projects. He can do rough carpentry -- plus electrical wiring, and even much of the plumbing -- and he's a whiz with computers. I'd have to be a polyandrist (is there such a word meaning "plural marriage with men" -- in order to replace the range of handiwork from this guy.

The only thing I don't like him to do is painting. I am so fussy about that and have to bring in professionals. PS: We have never painted in this ten year old home, but I'm getting itchy.

Watch out, fellas, here I come.

Have a good day -- reminds me, I have a friend from the 1990s who lives in Maine. I'm going to call her for her birthday June 1! She'll be surprised to hear from me, I'm sure.

Peace, love and happiness.

RL in OR

[Critters2]

6. Beautiful? Box elder bugs? Well, okay.

Chacun a son gout.

[Radio_Lady]

8. Well, I'm not planning to EAT them, but the design of orange on their wings...

kind of looked attractive, at least in the BIG photo.

Sorry, but I guess we can discuss their photogenic qualities on another post.... or not.

Despite any rumors you may have heard, I am not planning to EAT any!

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Everyone to their own taste," she said, as she kissed the cow's ass.

[Blue Diadem]

4. Dish soap and water in a spray bottle will kill them instantly.

I only used it outside for clusters..they used to hang around one of the entrances to our home. I think we took care of most of them last year..now we have an occasional one here and there.

[Radio_Lady]

7. So I found out. Thanks for your help. I've never seen clusters... just individuals.

Thanks so much for your kind reply.

Cordially,

Radio Lady in Oregon

[Blue Diadem]

9. Our neighbor had a box elder tree, closer to our house than his.

The BE population got worse for a couple years after he cut the tree down. Last year was awful..there were so many that DH would use a 2 gallon pump sprayer filled with soap and water.

You're very welcome Radio Lady.

:hi:

[Radio_Lady]

10. Never heard of box elder trees --

Furthermore, I have no idea what they look like. (But I'll look anyway...)

We have Douglas fir trees soaring up about 80 feet behind our house, a few Japanese lace maples, one mimosa tree, two birch trees, and a lot of other kinds of bushes. Oh, we do have one pear tree, but no partridges in it.... Christmas joke, not funny in May.

More on the life of the bugs themselves:

http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/natural/insects/bugsfaq/boxeld.htm

[Blue Diadem]

12. Do you have Maple trees nearby

They like those too.

I must be tired, your partridge comment made me think of the TV show. I'll be hearing that song in my head all night.

Good Night Radio Lady.

[Radio_Lady]

13. Yes, we have just one coral bark maple and a few Japanese maple trees in our yard...

Also, the builder did put in maples in the planting area between the sidewalk and the street -- so they are up and down our block.

My husband trims those trees, but NEITHER of us have ever seen the young ones, especially in a cluster! Yikes!

Re: The Partridge Family song... I can't remember it. What the heck? We were raising five children when that show was popular! I can't remember much about those years.

Wedding in Sudbury, Massachusetts, with my two urchins...



Mother's Day with Daddy Al (Hahaha -- and his toupee!!!) and the five kids. His and mine... We never had an "ours" :-( but he got a vasectomy for my wedding gift! Best present I ever received! :evilgrin:

[Blue Diadem]

15. Re that theme song, here ya go RL

http://www.televisiontunes.com/Partridge_Family.html

You have a beautiful family RL.

[Radio_Lady]

11. I don't know if box elder trees grow in Portland, OR -- or Boston, MA.

Don't recognize anything about them.

http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/kids/tree_box.htm