Eastern Boxelder Bug

Eastern boxelder bugs are a native species in North America. The current range of this species covers the eastern United States, southern Canada, Mexico, and south into Guatemala. There have also been many sightings of them in South Africa. However, there is a high chance that these individuals are part of the species Boisea fulcrata, another related species. In 2020, this species was accidentally introduced in Chile and has become an invasive species in the country's central region, especially in Santiago. The introduction follows the ornamental use of maple trees in Chilean residential areas and suburbs.

Although they specialize in eating the seeds from maple, boxelder and ash, they may pierce other parts of the plant while feeding, but incidentally. They are not classified as an agricultural pest and are generally not considered injurious to ornamental plantings. They damage some fruits in the fall when they leave their summer quarters in trees and seek areas to overwinter. Feeding by the bugs produces dimples, scars, fruit deformation, corky tissue, and even premature fruit-drop in strawberries and some tree fruits. But they are not major agricultural pests.