Boxelder Bug Treatment
How Do I Identify A Boxelder Bug Infestation?
Appearance - Boxelder bugs are typically 4 to 5 millimeters in length. The body of the boxelder bug is normally black with red around the outside of the body but can sometimes be a darker orange.
Behavior - Boxelder bugs will be most active during the warmer months and will be see moving around the most during these times. They will be seen around any Maple or Boxelder trees you may have. Boxelder bugs will tend to seek shelter in colder months within your windows and other places where they can still benefit from the suns heat.
Boxexlder bugs pose no harm to people, although the sight of them swarming in you home is most certainly not welcome. Boxelder bugs also pose a risk to box elder trees planted for ornamental landscaping as these trees are prone to infestation.
Call us for boxelder bug control to protect your property and prevent these bugs from invading and swarming in your home.
Why Could I Have Boxelder Bugs?
You may have a boxelder bug infestation if you have boxelder trees around your property. These trees are prone to infestation from boxelder bugs. Beyond infesting the tree, these bugs can then seek to overwinter inside your home for warmth and shelter. Even without an infested tree on your property, boxelder bugs might still find your home to be the perfect place to wait out the winter.
Boxelder bugs can get inside your home due to cracks in caulk or seals around windows and doors. We can perform effective boxelder bug control and keep the infestation from taking over your property and home.
Why Should I Treat My Boxelder Bug Problem Immediately?
While boxelder bugs pose not harm to humans, we still do not want a swarm of them invading our home. If you have a boxelder bug infestation, when the warm weather comes they will swarm as they try to get out from their overwinter location in your home.
Calling our professional boxelder bug extermination team can ensure that successful boxelder bug control takes place and that your home and property are boxelder bug free.
How to Get Rid of Boxelder Bugs
Boxelder bugs are in the same family as other annoying pests like stink bugs and cicadas. Like stink bugs, boxelders will release a nasty odor when they are crushed. They are about half an inch long and are black with red or orange markings. These pests are not dangerous to humans, but they can be a nuisance, especially when they are in large groups.
Boxelder bugs can be a big problem during hot and dry summers. They are attracted to heat. So, if you are experiencing a dry, hot season, knowing how to get rid of Boxelder bugs is essential.
How Do I Spot a Boxelder Bug Problem?
The first step in solving a Boxelder bug problem is knowing how to spot the infestation. The following signs will let you know that a Boxelder bug infestation is imminent.
- You see a lot of Boxelder bugs.
The best way to spot a Boxelder bug problem is to identify the pest. If you see a lot of Boxelder bugs together, even if you are outside, you have a big problem. Boxelder bugs can cause a lot of damage to plants. So, when you notice the bugs on your property, you need to take steps to remove them immediately. - It is springtime.
Boxelder bug problems are most common in the springtime. They overwinter in the soil. Then when the weather begins to warm up, they emerge. This is when they are most likely to swarm on outdoor trees or invade your home. Make sure to look for Boxelder bug signs more in the springtime. - You see damage to your maple trees, boxelder vines, or soft fruit plants.
Boxelder bugs get their name from the boxelder family of plants. They are a common food source for Boxelder bugs. Other plants the pest attacks include maple trees and soft fruits like grapes and peaches. Generally, Boxelder bugs do not catastrophically harm fruiting plants. But they can cause maple and boxelder leaves to curl up and turn yellow.
How Do I Get Rid of Boxelder Bugs?
Boxelder bug infestations are not dangerous, but they are annoying. They can cause an odor. In large numbers, their feces stains can cause cosmetic damage to your walls. Getting rid of them as quickly as possible is the best way to ensure they do as little harm as possible.
The following steps will help you get rid of Boxelder bugs.
- Seal entry points to your home.
Make sure they are sealed by August so Boxelder bugs cannot overwinter in your home. - Remove any Boxelder bugs in your home with a vacuum.
This is not a very effective solution but could help with a small outbreak. - Use pesticides.
Over-the-counter pesticides may work at preventing a Boxelder bug outbreak. They are not as effective at removing the bugs once they are established. - Contact a reputable Boxelder removal company.
Your best bet in removing Boxelder bugs from your home and yard is to contact a pest control company. At GoLocal Pest Control, we can help you find the top companies in your area. It doesn't matter where you live, GoLocal Pest Control has the connections to find you the best Boxelder bug removal available. Contact us today.
How to Prevent Boxelder Bugs
In large numbers, boxelder bugs can be a big nuisance. They do not usually bite humans, but they can cause mosquito-like spots when handled. If you crush them, they will emit a bad odor. And their feces creates red-orange stains that can ruin fabric. In all, you do not want large groups of boxelder bugs entering your home.
Why Do I Have Boxelder Bugs?
But why do you have boxelder bugs in the first place? The easy answer is that your home provides them food, warmth, or security. The main reasons boxelder bugs seem to like your home more than your neighbors are listed below.
- You have a lot of southern or western facing windows.
Boxelder bugs are not usually an issue in the summer. That is because the weather is warm enough that they do not feel the need to find shelter. Yet, as the weather turns cooler, they may be more interested in invading your home. This is especially true if your house has a lot of southern or western-facing windows. These windows receive the most sun exposure and are therefore the warmest place in your home. - Your yard has boxelder bugs' food sources.
Boxelder bugs eat the seeds of ash, boxelder, and maple trees. Refreshingly, they are not interested in human food. But, if your yard has a lot of ash, boxelder, or maple trees, you will likely have boxelder bugs. The more boxelder bugs in your yard, the more likely it is that they will get in your house.
How Do I Prevent Boxelder Bugs?
You could cut down all of your ash, boxelder, and maple trees. Who wants to do that, though? Similarly, you are not going to cover all your western and southern facing windows. So, how can you prevent boxelder bugs? The tips below are a good way to start.
- Vacuum any boxelder bugs you find.
Do not crush boxelder bugs. They can create quite the stink in your home. Instead, you can try to keep the problem under control by vacuuming any bugs you find. This could help prevent an outbreak in your home. - Keep your lawn mowed.
Mowing your lawn regularly will remove the seeds the boxelder bugs need to survive. Without those seeds, they may decide to move on to more appealing yards. - Seal any entrance points.
This tip will not keep boxelder bugs out of your yard, but it may reduce the likelihood of an infestation in your home. Sealing any cracks in the foundation or around your doors and windows will help keep the boxelder bugs out of your house. - Contact a good pest removal company.
Short of removing all the appealing trees in your yard, your best bet for preventing boxelder bugs is hiring a good pest removal company. At GoLocal Pest Control, we specialize in finding the top companies in any location. Just put your zip code in our database and choose from the resulting list. It's that simple.
What Do Boxelder Bugs Look Like?
Boxelder bugs are a native North American species of true bug. These are insects of the Hemiptera order. They include bed bugs, shield bugs, aphids, and cicadas. One major commonality of true bugs is their sucking mouthparts. In the case of boxelder bugs, their mouthparts help them suck sap from leaves, twigs, and seeds.
Boxelder bugs target boxelder trees, hence, their name. They will also eat sap from apple, ash, maple, and almond trees. Boxelder bugs in large groups can be extremely detrimental to these trees. It is better to identify them immediately and remove them. That way the trees on your property will remain safe.
How Many Species of Boxelder Bugs Are There?
There are not many species of boxelder bugs. There is only one, the boxelder bug or Boisea trivittata. This means it is extremely easy to know what they look like. There won't be a lot of species to learn the descriptions of.
Boxelder bugs are part of the genus Boisea, which includes members of the soapberry bug. Sharing a genus explains why soapberry bugs and boxelder bugs look similar. There are significant differences, though. Once you read the description below, you are unlikely to get the two types of bugs confused.
What Do Boxelder Bugs Look Like?
Boxelder bugs have a very distinctive appearance. Once you know what to look for, you can easily spot them. They are black bugs with red or orange markings on their back. Their body shape is flattened and oval. They are typically about half an inch in length.
Like other insects, Boxelder bugs have six legs and two antennae. They also have wings; however, when they are in their nymph stage they lack the wings. Nymph boxelder bugs are also bright red, not black and red.
You will find boxelder bugs all over the United States. They have recently been spreading to South American countries like Chile in 2020, where they become an invasive species. They are not considered an invasive species in the United States. But they can become a major pest when they invade in large numbers.
There are three stages to the boxelder bug life cycle: egg, nymph, and adult. As we've already mentioned, the nymphs are bright red and lack wings. They are also somewhat smaller than adults, but their body shape is the same. The nymphs molt multiple times throughout the summer to reach their adult stage. Boxelder bugs typically live for about one year.
You are most likely to experience boxelder bug problems in the spring, summer, and fall. The most common time for the pest to invade homes is in the fall when they are looking for somewhere to hibernate.
No matter what season, you need good boxelder bug control to keep this pest in line. At GoLocal Pest Control, we can help you find the top services near you. Just put your zip code in our database. We will provide you with many different options to choose from.
How to Find an Exterminator to Help with Boxelder Bugs
Boxelder bugs are from the same family as cicadas and stink bugs. It makes sense then that they are as annoying as those pests. They can destroy young boxelder, maple, and ash trees, which are their primary food source. Even if they don't kill the tree, they can cause unsightly damage.
Another problem with boxelder bugs is that they often swarm in very large numbers. These swarms are not dangerous to humans. But if they enter your home in large numbers, they can be a big annoyance.
It is best to remove boxelder bugs as soon as you notice them. The problem is that not all exterminators specialize in exterminating boxelder bugs. You need to find a good company that can help you with them. To do that you need to continue reading this article.
What Should I Look for in a Boxelder Bug Exterminator?
The best way to determine if an exterminator is right for your boxelder bug problem is to see if they specialize in that pest. Not all exterminators can remove boxelder bugs. Once you know that the company has shandled your infestation, you should ask them the following questions.
- Do you have technicians that specialize in boxelder bugs?
- Will your treatment hurt my trees?
- Can I solve my boxelder bug problem myself?
- What is your treatment for boxelder bugs inside the house?
- Are boxelder bugs going to be a recurrent problem?
What Should I Expect from Boxelder Bug Exterminators?
Like all pest control treatments, boxelder bug extermination begins with an inspection. You should look for a company that provides this and a quote for free. It will help you determine if the company fits with you or not.
The inspection determines where the boxelder bugs are located. If they are in the house, the technician will also try to find where they are coming in. If the problem is outside, the technician will determine which trees have the worse outbreak.
Next comes the actual treatment. Most often this will involve the use of an insecticide. The technicians may also vacuum up dead or dying boxelder bugs. They will look for any boxelder bug eggs as well.
Boxelder bug problems are most common in the spring. If you notice a new boxelder bug infestation, you should call the exterminator. The best companies will provide retreatment for the issue.
How Do I Find an Exterminator to Help with Boxelder Bugs?
Finding an exterminator doesn't have to be hard work. Yes, you will need to narrow down your options. But finding the companies isn't difficult. Just put your zip code in our location finder. You can trust our recommendations. We have already vetted all of the exterminators in our system.
We here at GoLocal Pest Control will help you find the best boxelder bug removal company near you. You can find out more about our process on this page. If you still have questions, feel free to contact us anytime.
Most Common Locations for Boxelder Bugs
1. Minnesota
Boxelder bugs are particularly common in Minnesota, where they thrive in areas with abundant boxelder, maple, and ash trees. They are most noticeable in the fall when they seek out warm places to overwinter, often gathering on the sunny sides of buildings and homes. In rural and suburban areas, boxelder bugs can become a nuisance as they try to enter houses to escape the cold.
2. Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, boxelder bugs are frequently found in both urban and rural areas, especially in the presence of boxelder trees, which are common throughout the state. As temperatures drop in the fall, these bugs become a significant nuisance as they attempt to find shelter in homes and buildings. They are often seen congregating in large numbers on the sides of houses, particularly on warm, sunny days.
3. Illinois
Boxelder bugs are widespread in Illinois, particularly in areas with boxelder trees, which are a primary food source for their nymphs. During the cooler months, they often invade homes in large numbers, seeking warmth. In both rural and suburban settings, they can be found clustering around windows, doors, and on the exteriors of buildings, especially on the south-facing sides.
4. Idaho
Idaho experiences significant boxelder bug activity, particularly in the southern part of the state. Boxelder trees are common in the region, providing an ideal habitat for these insects. In the fall, boxelder bugs become a common sight as they gather on the sides of homes and other buildings, looking for entry points to overwinter indoors. They are especially prevalent in areas with large numbers of boxelder trees.
5. Oregon
In Oregon, boxelder bugs are frequently found in areas with abundant boxelder and maple trees, particularly in the western part of the state. As the weather cools in the fall, these bugs seek shelter in homes and other structures, often congregating on the sunny sides of buildings. They are a common nuisance pest in both urban and rural areas, especially where boxelder trees are present.
These states highlight the common occurrence of boxelder bugs in regions where their preferred host trees, such as boxelder and maple, are abundant. As the weather cools, these bugs often become a nuisance as they seek warmth and shelter in homes and buildings.