Boxelder Bug Health Concerns

Do Boxelder Bugs Bite?

Almost never. Boxelder bugs are a nuisance and nothing more. They have no sting and do not spread disease.

Are Boxelder Bugs a Health Risk?

For people and pets, the short answer is no. Boxelder bugs have a slender beak built for piercing seeds and plant tissue. On rare occasions, one that is trapped against skin may probe with that beak, leaving a small red spot that feels like a minor pinch and may itch briefly, much like a mosquito bite. There is no venom involved, and no disease is passed on.

If you get bitten: wash the spot with soap and water and use a cool compress if it itches. Nothing more is usually needed. See a doctor only if the spot becomes increasingly red, warm, swollen or painful over the next few days, which can point to a skin infection from scratching.

Pets: boxelder bugs are not known to be toxic to dogs or cats. Their bold red and black coloring warns predators that they taste bad, so most pets lose interest quickly. If a pet keeps vomiting or seems unwell after eating insects, call your vet.

Look-alikes that do bite: some other red-and-black or dark bugs in Florida, such as assassin bugs, can give a genuinely painful bite when handled. If a bug’s bite really hurt, it probably was not a boxelder bug. The red-shouldered bug, Florida’s most common boxelder bug look-alike, is just as harmless.

For removal tips, see how to get rid of boxelder bugs.