What do boxelder bugs look like?
Adults are dark with orange or red markings and overlapping wings. Young nymphs start bright red and become red and black as they grow.
What do boxelder bugs eat?
They feed on plants and seeds. Seed-bearing boxelder trees are an important part of their seasonal activity.
Why are they on the sunny side of a house?
They favor warm surfaces and may seek shelter in buildings in fall. Their abundance varies from year to year.
Try one observation
From a distance, compare a sunny wall and a shaded wall. Record the time and where the insects cluster.
Observe without handling or collecting. These clues are a starting point, not a confirmed identification.