Some unfortunate homeowners find that boxelder bugs invade every year. In the fall, the insects congregate on the exterior walls of light-colored buildings, most commonly on the south or southwest side. Sometimes they come indoors, following the heat gradient to an interior room.
Boxelder bugs are attracted to rough surfaces and tall buildings. Multi-story houses get the most attention from these critters. They also favor houses with large trees immediately adjacent to the structure. Boisea rubrolineata is the species in the western states and British Columbia whereas B. trivittata is throughout North America, east of Nevada.
Adult boxelder bugs are about 1/2 inch long, brownish gray, a bright red abdomen, and with reddish lines outlining the wings. They won't structurally harm your home, they won't harm you, and they don’t breed indoors.
They can be a serious nuisance, however, when they gather in large numbers around the house. If they get indoors they can stain interior furnishings with their droppings.
What to do:
Unfortunately we don’t have any permanent solutions to offer. However, here are a few things that will help:
- Caulk openings and cracks around doors and windows and repair window screens to deny the insects an entry.
- In extreme cases, consider hiring a pest control company to apply a residual insecticide to the exterior wall(s) to discourage the bugs from landing. This is most effective if the application is made a week be prior to the bugs' expected arrival.
Insecticides are not very effective after the weather turns cold, or in the spring.
Bear in mind that as annoying as they are, boxelder bugs will only be around until the weather gets cold. You can vacuum any that migrate indoors. Sometimes the best solution may be to ignore them until they go away.
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