
Boxelder bug
Black body with thin red lines
Illustration · not shown at life sizeTrue bugs / Insect
Halyomorpha halys
Look beyond the brown shield shape. Pale antenna bands and light-and-dark side marks are useful clues.
Let’s look closerLittle clues
Shield-shaped body.
Pale bands on antennae.
Alternating light-and-dark side markings.
Out in the world
Vegetation and fall house walls.
Watch outside walls in fall, when adults search for winter shelter.
Look closely. Leave your tiny neighbor where you found it.
A closer look
Look closely at the antennae for pale bands. Many other stink bugs also have brown, shield-shaped bodies.
A special find can be hard to spot without being biologically rare. Encounters depend on season and habitat.
For curious grownups, too
Original summaries, with references for deeper reading. Field notes are being checked against the supplied research.
Make a creature disc
Drag a PNG image into xTool Studio, or use its download button. Images use the full-resolution files.


Matches this front · dark lettering 0.5 mm, outline 0.1 mm at 1 mm maximum
Download PNG
Front artwork is made for a 3-inch clear disc. Revised artwork still needs a physical check. Disc backs are blank; use the single carrier QR from the print studio to open the field guide.
Visit the print studio →