It is deff a Box Elder....and no it doesent eat the plant at all....and as far as anything eating it....no way...terrable smell and taste (this aint fear factor I didnt try, just heard) They have red spots on its back and are a black/brown collow....very similar to a milkweed bug. Their spring food source is the female Box Elder tree....but I have none around my neiborhood. The plant is acctually banned in some states.

I have found a waxy looking rez on some leaves before i eliminated the majority of the bastards (carpet cleaning...wall soaping and rinsing....and the water/soap bottle assasin shoting em down where I saw em) and it still concerns me as to what they are doing when they are around my plants. All research says they dont reproduce indoors. So no nesting to worry about.

Anyone had any known BOX ELDER damage?