Boxelder Bugs and Your Nice, Warm House

‘Tis the season for different insect critters to find their way into your nice, warm, and toasty house. It is too cold outside for some bugs, so why not camp out in your home? Asian Lady Beetles were the scourge a few years ago, but now not so much. Boxelder Bugs have probably already entered your home and, if the days remain sunny and warm more will arrive. And, generally, these bugs tend to be with us year after year. 

Boxelder Bugs nest in boxelder trees (no kidding?), maple, and ash trees during the warmer months. Adult bugs live, feed, and mate in these trees and on some flowers as well. Then with the onset of colder weather, you will find them by the hundreds on branches. You will also see them in all kinds of fun places in your home. 

Look on the south and west sides of your house. If the south and west sides have a sunny exposure, chances are pretty good that you will see them massing there and looking for a way in. They are resting and warming their “bones” before moving into your house. Almost any crevice will do. Sometimes a chip in the brick or stucco mortar is enough. Regardless, if they can fit through a crack, they are in. 

They will remain in your house all winter. They do not lay eggs or mate in your house. They are probably more of a nuisance than anything else. They don’t cause any damage, though their dainty droppings will leave stains on your furniture, linens, curtains, etc. 

Prevention. Seal any and all cracks and crevices on your home so they do not enter in the first place. Consider caulking, weather-stripping around windows, and sealing around your cable-TV and telephone lines. They can enter through your dryer vents. Finding any large gaping crack is easy. Finding the teeny tiny ones are more difficult. 

First, some don’ts: Don’t power wash your house. It will make you feel good to see them scatter hither and thither and maybe you will kill a few here and there. But really you are just giving them a nice bath and when they dry out they will be baaaack! And don’t look in your local garden center for a poison to spray on them or along the outside of your house. No such spray exists for Boxelder Bugs (though commercial pest-control folks may have something for you to purchase if you want professional help). 

Outside prevention suggestions. One of the best and least expensive methods is to use a soapy water solution. It is environmentally safe and healthier for your family. You can use any dishwashing liquid. I pour about a half cup of liquid in a gallon spray container. Add water and you are ready to attack. Spray the solution directly on the critters. If it is a warm sunny day, a good soaking will kill a whole
bunch of them very quickly. Don’t be stingy with the spray. The solution should
not stain the outside of your house and a good rain will wash any soapy
solution away. You may need to spray multiple times to kill any new arrivals.
Spraying your house will not kill the bugs if they land on your house. The
spray has to be on the bug. The bugs will continue to congregate and enter your
home. 

How does the soapy solution kill them? I am not sure there is complete agreement, but some folks think the soapy solution breaks down their outer shell. The insects become dehydrated and die. Others say it blocks their breathing pores and inhibits their ability to “breathe.” Regardless, the soapy solution kills them dead! 

Inside prevention suggestions. You can use a vacuum cleaner. Clean and environmentally safe and it gives you a chance to get rid of some unwanted spider or cob-webs at the same time. Suck those bugs up and toss the bag away when you don’t see any more in the house. You can always squish them. Use some gloves (e.g., rubber gloves or those gloves medical people use) if you choose to squish them. However, squishing them can cause stains and they
emit an odor when you squash them. 

My favorite way is to capture them with adhesive tape, e.g., Scotch tape. When you see them crawling on your windows, floors, ceilings, desk, or counter top just pull off a few inches of tape, place it firmly on them, and fold the ends over the rascal. The adhesive will pin them to the tape. Folding will prevent the more adventuresome from escaping. Toss them in your garbage and you are done, until of course you find another one. Simple. And your local 3M person will appreciate it. 

Keeping creepy crawlers out of your house can be a challenge. Keeping Boxelder Bugs out of your home is no exception, but you can prevent them from entering. Sealing the cracks and crevices will work. Spraying them with a soap-water solution is about a 100% sure way to stop them before they enter.

Happy hunting!

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