F-508517 
Figure 19.—Adult cf the boxelder bug, 
Leptocoris trivittatus, on seed of 
boxelder. 
their hosts where they deposit eggs on the leaves. Eggs also are occasionally laid on 
leaves or under the bark of other tree species, on stones, grass, litter, fences, and in 
doorway crevices. Eggs hatch in 11 to 14 days and the nymphs feed on leaves, 
fruits, or soft seeds by inserting their beaks into the tissues. Feeding continues 
throughout the summer, or until the nymphs become adults. In some parts of the 
country the adults may emerge by midsummer and give rise to a second generation 
that matures in the fall. 
The importance of the boxelder bug as a pest derives from its habit of invading 
houses in large numbers in search of shelter. Householders and supervisors of 
outdoor recreational areas and parks are often concerned. One way to reduce the 
problem is to remove the boxelder trees, particularly the female seed-bearing trees. 
The removal of leaf litter also discourages the insects from congregating (/350). 
Family Lygaeidae 
Lygaeid Bugs 
This is a rather large family, most members of which feed on mature seed. The 
adults are small insects, about 2 to 18 mm long. Many are conspicuously marked 
with spots or bands of white, black, or red. Various plant-feeding species are found 
on herbaceous vegetation in the forest. One species, Kleidocerys resedae geminatus 
(Say), feeds on the catkins of yellow and gray birches, rhododendron, etc. 
Family Thaumastocoridae 
Thaumastocorid Bugs 
Xylastodoris luteolus Barber, the royalpalm bug, is the only member of this 
family known to occur in the United States. It feeds on the Florida royalpalm, 
Roystonea elata (Bartr.) F. Harper, in southern Florida, as well as in its native land, 
Cuba. Adults are pale yellow, flattened, and about 2 to 2.5 mm long. Eggs are 
deposited on the undersurfaces of leaflet midribs, usually on older trees. Feeding 
occurs on unfolded leaflets of newly emerging fronds and to some extent on the 
spike or projecting part of the terminal bud. Fronds exposed to heavy feeding may 
turn brown (54). 
68 
