As the weather warms up, so does pest activity. One pest in particular that tends to find its way into and around your home during warmer months is boxelder bugs. They belong to what is called the “true bug” family, closely related to stink bugs and cicadas. If you have encountered a boxelder bug, you have surely noticed their distinct, bright-orange markings across their backs and the terrible smell that releases when you crush them. In order to get rid of boxelder bugs, we need to start with the basics:
The short answer is no, boxelder bugs will not hurt you. While they can cause some damage to plants and can leave stains from their bodies around your window sills, they have not been known to cause significant damage or harm to people or properties. However, at the end of the day, they can be incredibly annoying.
A number of things can lead a boxelder bug to your home, but boxelder bugs tend to be attracted to heat-reflecting surfaces (think windows). They are typically found on the western-facing side of houses for warmth purposes.
These bugs are quite slender, which allows them to creep in through even some of the smallest cracks and crevices. Boxelder bugs are attracted to windows, especially, so any tiny cracks around your windows allow them to enter your home.
If you have boxelder bugs in and around your home, you quickly become a target for mice and other rodents. Spiders have also been known to eat boxelder bugs, so getting rid of them quickly is imperative to keeping your home protected from other pests.
The lifespan of a boxelder bug is about one year, meaning it won’t just die after a few days like a common housefly. This allows them to reproduce and infest your home over a long period of time.
This question is trickier, considering these bugs never actually go away. While they are more active in the spring and summer, boxelder bugs do something called overwintering, where they will find shelter for winter. That typically means finding their way into someone’s home for warmth, food, and water sources.
If you see one or two of these bugs in or around your home, simply grab some dish soap and water, and using a 1:4 ratio, spray the bugs to saturate them. This will kill them so you can wipe them up easily and dispose of them.
Now that you know all you need to know about boxelder habits and behaviors, it’s important to know what to do when you have an infestation. While the dish soap remedy will kill these bugs, it will not keep them from coming back. That’s where Valor Pest Solutions comes in. We offer boxelder bug control that not only treats the pest but prevents it from returning.
We assess your home with our thorough inspection process, allowing us to pinpoint entry points and seal your home off from all kinds of pests. By treating the pests and the weak points that allow them into your home or attract it to your property, we are able to help you get back to enjoying your home.
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