Boxelder bugs belong to the Hemiptera family. The adult Boxelder bug is red and black and about one and half inches long. Boxelder Bugs are harmless and do not bite. The problems that they cause it they are hard to keep out of your house and if they are crushed, emit a very foul odor and also stain clothes and furniture.
adult and young boxelder bugs
In Autumn, Boxelder bugs gather on footpaths, walls and tree trunks. They group together for warmth and as Winter approaches, they start to move into your house via any cracks or gaps in your house’s exterior walls.
Boxelder bugs extermination tips
To exterminate the bugs at their source, you must go to the tree where they reside and apply the chemical Cypermethrin to their nest. Use a sprayer and apply this to the leaves branches and trunks of the tree. By reducing their colonies this way, you will be able to control and reduce the amount that could find their way into your house. Use this chemical on a regular basis every Autumn and Summer to confirm that no colonies of Elder Bugs can form within these trees.
Boxelder bugs occupy the Elder Maple tree, feeding on its seeds and sap. Boxelder bugs also feed on other maple trees. In order to eradicate them, you may not be able to remove the trees in your neighborhood so it is best to learn how to get rid of them at the source and seal your home so they won’t enter.
If you desire to keep some of your maple trees, you need to seal any cracks in your foundation and any openings in doors and windows so that the bugs won’t enter. Use a vacuum to remove any existing bugs and use a mild soap or detergent to spray onto the bugs to kill them
Prevent Boxelder bugs from invading your home
Using a foam sealant, seal all the nooks and crannies of your home so that the bugs won’t enter. Then, use a hand duster or applicator to apply Drione dust to the cracks. This is a powerful repellent so the bugs won’t enter your house.
Boxelder bugs are small bugs and are harmless to humans. If you do not desire them to enter your house or garden, seal your house and exterminate them from surrounding maple trees in your garden or optionally from your neighborhood.