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Home » Forums » General Discussion

box elder bug mutation? a few "odd" ones in a group

Hopefully an entomology buff can help me here.

I live in Colorado and recently I've found (amongst a group of adult box elder elder bugs) a few individuals that look different from the others.

Our {B. rubrolineatus? B. trivittata?} Box elder bugs are orange/red and black as adults with *red* eyes, however I've seen two now who look identical to the others (slightly smaller) except with *black* eyes and a single WHITE SPOT on the (folded) wings, below the wing covers. These are not nymphs in any way.

What is this? Is it a mutation? Different variety? These are my fave bugs of all, they are adorable so I'm keen to know the answer. Thanks :)
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Contributed by buggybug on 3 February, 2009 - 9:09pm

Small Milkweed Bug?
See
… Lynette Elliott, 4 February, 2009 - 9:08am login or register to post comments

 
I will have to get a picture
I will have to get a picture - but yes, I think you're right! :) My examples have thinner red patterns more like the box elder bugs, though. Some students at Uni have a terrarium habitat of box elder bugs and its amazing how much the interloping Small Milkweed Bugs look like the rest and seemingly even woke up from hibernation in the building! The morphology (even close up!) is so identical and yet they are in different families. One is a "seed bug" and the other "scentless plant bug" --interesting! - Thank you.
… buggybug, 5 February, 2009 - 9:24am login or register to post comments

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