Boxelder bugs are a a nuisance as they enter homes and buildings in large numbers. Although harmless to property, they can stain walls, upholstery, curtains and other surfaces if squashed and their excrement also stains. Also, they may occasionally seek moisture and may be seen around indoor plants, although they rarely eat them. In some cases, when they do feed, these bugs are very unlikely to injure indoor plants.
The Box elder bug belongs to the Hemiptera family, and are known for entering homes as the temperature starts to drop. The adult elder bug is red and black and bout 1 ½ inches long. They 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.Boxelder bugs gather in Autumn on footpaths, walls and tree trunks. They group together for warmth and as Winter approaches, the start to travel into your house via any cracks or crannies in your house’s exterior.
Boxelder bugs inhabit the Elder Maple tree, and mainly feeds on its seeds and sap. They also feed on other maple trees. In order to get rid of them, as you may not be able to remove all the maple trees in your neighborhood, it’s best to follow some of these steps.
If you want to keep some of your maple trees, firstly seal all the cracks in your building foundation and any openings in doors and windows. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any present bugs and use a mild soap or detergent to spray the bugs to kill them.
If you want to keep your trees, and eradicate the invading box elder bugs, you need to firstly make sure you’ve sealed any obvious cracks in your foundation, and check for openings around doors and windows. You should also replace any cracked or broken windows.It is best to use a foam sealant to seal all the cracks and crannies of your home so that the bugs won’t enter. Then, use a hand duster to apply a special chemical, Drione dust to the cracks. This is a repellent so the bugs won’t enter your house.
To ensure that you get rid of the bugs at their source, go to the tree where they live and apply Cypermethrin to the nest and tree. Use a sprayer and apply this to the leaves branches and trunks of the tree. By reducing their numbers in this manner, you will be able to control the amount that could find their way into your house. Use this chemical on a regular basis every Autumn and Summer to ensure that no colonies of Elder Bugs can form within these trees. If you follow a simple few steps you will get rid of Boxelder bugs from entering your property for good.