Boxelder bugs and prevent them from invading your home
As the weather cools in the fall, boxelder bugs start looking for a cozy place to spend the winter, such as your house, garage, or garden shed. These black and red bugs are mostly harmless as far as indoor pests go, but they can be a nuisance when they get inside. Like their fellow fall beetle, the brown marmorated stink bug, boxer bugs like to gather in large numbers. Although they won't cause any structural damage, having hundreds of insects sharing your space is not an attractive idea.
Here's how to get rid of box bugs in your home and how to get rid of them this fall.
1. Seal cracks around doors and windows
The best way to protect your home against boxelder bugs (and many other indoor pests) is to prevent them from getting inside in the first place. Make sure to weather-proof your doors and windows, and seal any obvious cracks or holes in your home's exterior, such as torn window screens and openings around vents.
Boxelder bugs aren't very large, so you can't completely insulate your home against them, but blocking some obvious entry points can help reduce the number of people getting in.
2. Vacuum, don't squash bugs
It's tempting to exterminate these pests when you find them in your home, but it can cause problems you don't want to deal with. When crushed, their orange insides leave stains on your walls, carpets, and floors. Boxelder bugs can emit an unpleasant odor when crushed or disturbed. That smell helps ward off predators outside, but lingering in your living room is unpleasant.
A less messy solution is to vacuum boxelder errors. If any bugs escaped on the trip, make sure to immediately empty your vacuum into a sealed bag and try crawling out. You can try to sweep them out again to reduce the indoor population.
3. Avoid pesticides
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, using pesticides should be the last resort how to get rid of box bugs. Over time, boxelder bugs have developed resistance to many standard formulas. That means you won't have much success using pesticides. Additionally, these chemicals can harm pets, small children, and non-target insects such as pollinators.
4. Spray a soap
A simple solution made from soap and water kills boxelder bugs. Add a tablespoon or so of liquid dishwashing soap to a spray bottle filled with water and gently shake. Spray the mixture directly on the bugs you see. Soap breaks down the insects' outer shells, causing them to dehydrate and die. If possible, you can also try knocking the insects into a bucket of soapy water, where they will drown.
5. Avoid boxelder trees
As their name suggests, these bugs love Boxelder trees, a type of maple native to North America. Seed-bearing female boxelder trees are a big attraction for these insects, so if you have one or more in your yard, consider replacing them with a tree that is less attractive to these insects.
According to the University of Idaho, replacing these trees may reduce their numbers slightly. Adults can travel long distances, so even a boxwood tree hundreds of yards away can host the bugs on their way to your home. Raking and disposing of seeds that appear in the spring can help reduce the problem, however, young box bugs usually survive on seeds that have fallen earlier in the year.
Remember, boxelder bugs are annoying, but they won't hurt you or damage your home. Keep your vacuum cleaner and soapy spray handy for any bugs you find. When spring comes, these insects will go back outside, where they came from.
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