Eastern Boxelder Bug

Our burgeoning butterfly bush (genus Buddleja) was host to a generation of Eastern Boxelder Bugs (Boisea trivittata) this spring. These bugs are a species of Scentless Plant Bug (family Rhopalidae) and belong to the tribe Serinethinae (Soapberry Bugs). Members of this tribe have a distinct black-and-red color scheme. All instars, as well as adults, can be seen in the photos below. They seemed to be attracted to our neighbor's maple tree and often fed on the seed pods in addition to the butterfly bush.

A nymph feeding on a maple seed pod:

A Common House Spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum) feeding on an adult Boxelder:

References:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/470367 (Serinethinae)
http://soapberrybug.org/01_cms/details.asp?ID=196 (ID guide for Serinethinae)
http://bugguide.net/node/view/3598 (B. trivittata)
http://www.americaninsects.net/ht/boisea-trivittata.html
http://www.uark.edu/ua/arthmuse/boxbug.html
http://www.cirrusimage.com/bugs_box_elder.htm
http://entoweb.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/boxelder.htm
http://ccesuffolk.org/assets/Horticulture-Leaflets/Boxelder-Bug.pdf (includes info on non-insecticidal control)