You know I don't think that's a box elder bug. Milkweed bugs look very similar and I don't think box elder bugs have that blobby red bar behind their head. I think they just have the chevrons on the wing area. Go to Google images and search for "box elder bug" and "milkweed bug" and compare. Or ask this question on www.bugguide.net under the section "ID Request". They will ID it for you.

Bugguide can also be searched for the box elder bug and milkweed bug. They are a database of thousands of images taxonomically categorized.

You could also try www.whatsthatbug.com.

p.s. Our state bird here in Michigan is the mosquito.

Ok, it is probably a box elder bug. Here's the link to bugguide.net for him.

Here is a link that might be useful: Box elder bug family

Here's a better link. Or click the "browse" tab from the above link. Same thing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Box elder bug family better link

To me it looks more like a milkweed bug---with the black heart-shaped area on the thorax, no vertical red line between the thorax & head, etc. I get tons of milkweed bugs in my garden every summer, and get boxelder bugs on my back porch in the fall/winter.