Bug ID?

[mmarteen]

In the Minneapolis-St. Paul area we have been getting a plague of Asian lady bugs each Fall and this year it is especially bad. They cluster on the south and west sides of our house and use every opportunity to sneak into the house.

Here's the ID question: for the first time I have noticed that these Asian lady bugs are not the only bugs in the swarm on the house. They appear to be accompanied by some bigger, flat bodied black bugs with a red "V" marking on their body. These also fly and do not seem to be at all related (as in some other life stage) to the Asian lady bugs. What are these guys, are they a problem other than a nuisance like the ladybugs and what are they doing hanging out with them?

(I already googled black bugs with red markings and came up empty handed).

mm

[Lar]

In article , [e-mail] says... :) In the Minneapolis-St. Paul area we have been getting a plague of Asian lady :) bugs each Fall and this year it is especially bad. They cluster on the :) south and west sides of our house and use every opportunity to sneak into :) the house. :) :) Here's the ID question: for the first time I have noticed that these Asian :) lady bugs are not the only bugs in the swarm on the house. They appear to :) be accompanied by some bigger, flat bodied black bugs with a red "V" marking :) on their body. These also fly and do not seem to be at all related (as in :) some other life stage) to the Asian lady bugs. What are these guys, are :) they a problem other than a nuisance like the ladybugs and what are they :) doing hanging out with them? :) :) (I already googled black bugs with red markings and came up empty handed). :) Probably Box Elder Bugs, slighter chance of red shouldered bugs, wouldn't think it would be milkweed bugs. They will be a nuisance, what is attracting them, the same as the LBs is the way the South/West side of the house stays warmer this time of year where they will look for a place to Winter over. There will be other insects such as other types of beetles and wasps that will be attracted to your home for the same reasons.

[Sed5555]

Sounds like boxelder bugs. They aren't "hanging out" with the ladybugs but are also looking for a place to overwinter. Do you have a boxelder tree in the area? That is what brings them to you in the first place. Take a look at the pictures on this webpage and see if they are the same:

[mmarteen]

Yup, that is them. Thanks for the quick ID.