Hobbies And Interests
Boxelder Bugs
The box elder tree belongs to the maple family and is native to North America. This medium-sized tree grows throughout Ohio and is often planted for its shade properties. Unfortunately, female box elder trees, which produce flowers and seeds in the spring, also house box-elder bugs or Boisea trivittatus. Box-elder bugs are easily identified, as their bodies are flat and black with bright red or orange markings. In March and April, these bugs congregate on the sides of homes and are likely to wander inside or may emerge from inside homes where they have overwintered. They do not bite humans or lay eggs inside a building but they may stain carpet and drapes when they defecate.
Wheel Bugs
The wheel bug, Arilus cristatus, is one of the largest true bugs in North America. It can be found from California to Rhode Island and exists in Ohio as well. Although fully grown adults are entirely black with red antennae and legs, they emit a pungent odor from orange-red scent sacs that protrude from their bodies. These bugs are easy to spot; they have long, thin legs, beaks that extend from tube-shaped heads and wheel-like structures on their backs, for which they are named. Wheel bugs are predators and they bite humans when provoked.
Milkweed Bugs
The milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus, is found in many parts of the United States, including several states in the South as well as Ohio. This bug feeds on milkweed plants and simultaneously emits toxic chemicals. The bug's appearance--a pattern of bright reddish-orange and black--serves as a warning of its toxicity. It is important that children and pets do not eat them. Males are marked by a black band on the underside of its last body segment, while females have two black spots in that area.
Ladybugs
The state of Ohio adopted the ladybug as its official insect in 1975. The ladybug, however, is actually a ladybird beetle and many different species exist in Ohio. Ladybugs are one of the most familiar beetles and they are readily identified by their round and often spotted bodies. Many are red, orange or yellow with black spots, while others are black with red or yellow spots. People commonly find them on plants and ladybugs are considered beneficial because they eat other insects known to feed on vegetation. Among such insects are aphids, which can severely damage field crops and garden vegetables.