unknown on Jul 3, 2023

Originally reported as Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica)

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

Small red bottomed beetles covering the base of the tree in front of house. They were of various size but all smaller than the annual grayish beetles that swarm everything for a week in summer and then die off. I looked up a picture of the Japanese beetles and they matched.

Commentary

Thank you for your report! Without a photo it's hard to be sure of what you're seeing, but I suspect these are box elder bugs. They can be abundant but they do no damage.

Tom Valente
July 3, 2023, 9:07 a.m.