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10/03/2006: "The Bugs are Back in Town"

A few days back, while pressing apples for cider, Nate and I noticed a large number of bugs suddenly appear near the back porch. I was worried that it was a colony of wasps finally fed up with our human shenanigans. Nate, being a much less cautious naturalist than I, managed to snag one for closer inspection. Maybe you’ve seen them.


The boxelder beetle, Leptocoris trivittatus. These critters are actually “true” bugs and not beetles at all. They are not harmful in any way, but there sure seem to be a lot of them! They sun themselves on the side of the house and try to get into the warm areas. They do no damage to the house, but since I found one in my bathrobe I don’t think too kindly of them.

It turns out the return of these bugs is an autumnal and vernal ritual. Now most autumn rituals for Nate and I involve a harvest of food in the form of squash, salmon and mushrooms. Who knows, maybe boxelder beetles are high in iron.