Boxelder bugs are nuisance pests that don’t sting or cause structural damage. Instead, they harm trees by removing plant fluid from young, developing leaves that turn yellow.
When the cooler temperature comes around, these pests look to overwinter inside homes, infesting residential and commercial properties.
Although these bugs won’t harm your home or business’s structure or its inhabitants, their presence is certainly unwanted. The only harm to buildings that you should look out for is the possibility of staining walls, curtains, and other surfaces with their excrement.
Depending on the area, it’s possible for many boxelder bugs to invade a home or business looking to hibernate, although they do not breed in buildings.
Identifying Boxelder Bugs
Nymph bugs are approximately 1.3 millimeters in length, wingless with black wing pads, bright red abdomens, and black legs and antennae. Nymphs become darker red as they age. The brownish-black adults are about 12 millimeters long and somewhat flattened on the top. There are three longitudinal stripes on the thorax, and the margins of the basal half of the wings are reddish-orange. The adult’s abdomen is also the same color.
How They Found Their Way Indoors
Found all year long outdoors, when autumn approaches, you can see this pest on the sunnier side of trees, buildings, and rocks. When it’s time for boxelder bugs to hibernate, they will attempt to enter cracks and crevices in the walls of buildings.
Once inside your property, boxelder bugs found around windowsills, door trim, exhaust fans, or lights in ceilings. Prevent them from entering your home by sealing gaps, cracks, and holes with caulk. If boxelder bugs manage to enter your home, remove them with a vacuum or broom and dustpan.
Boxelder bugs belong to the same family as stink bugs and release a foul odor when crushed. After sweeping or vacuuming the pests, place them in a tightly sealed bag and throw them outside.
Things You Can Do to Prevent an Infestation
An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Stop boxelder bugs from entering your property by making it more difficult to find a way inside.
Try the Following Prevention Methods
- Seal possible entry points around your home or business.
- Inspect your property and make necessary repairs before the end of the summer before they are ready to hibernate.
- Repair or replace damaged screens on windows and doors.
- Repair or replace broken screens in roof and soffit vents
- Install or repair damaged screens in bathroom and kitchen fans.
- Check cables, phone lines, utility wires and pipes, outdoor faucets, dryer vents, and other objects enter buildings for openings.
- Use caulk for small spaces. For larger openings, use polyurethane expandable spray foam or copper mesh.
- Check for gaps under doors and install door sweeps or thresholds to all exterior entry doors.
- Reach out to a Seitz Bros. pest control expert to thoroughly inspect your property.
Possible Boxelder Bug Damage
Boxelder, maple, and ash trees are common in our area and a favorite for boxelder bugs. Avoid spraying trees with insecticides as chemicals do nothing to prevent boxelder bugs from returning. Insecticides are broken down by sunlight, and the chemicals may not kill the insects much beyond several days or a week. A better option is reaching out to a professional and experienced pest control expert like Seitz Bros.
Your technician will thoroughly inspect the indoor and outdoor property to see what attracts them. Then a custom plan will detail what steps are needed to prevent a future infestation.
Don’t damage your living space by removing trees from your yard. If you don’t have the trees that they find attractive adult boxelder bugs may infest your house without access to a tree food source.
If you are dealing with boxelder bugs or any other type of pests, don’t try to solve the problem on your own. Rely on the Seitz Bros with a custom plan and guaranteed service. We have served properties of all sizes with our pest control issues since 1975.
Don’t let your boxelder bug program grow worse! Schedule a free consultation today!
