During the fall months, it can feel like bug after bug is making its way into your home. You may see stink bugs, ladybugs, and boxelder bugs. If you aren’t familiar with boxelder bugs, you might not know how to protect your home from an infestation. That’s why we have developed a guide to help you deal with boxelder bugs in Vernal this autumn.
What Are Boxelder Bugs?
Boxelder bugs grow to be about 14mm with an elongated body. They are black with orange or red markings. Boxelder bugs can be found anywhere there are boxelder trees. They feed on leaves from this tree, though they may also eat and damage other types of trees.
During the fall months, they seek warm places to hide out for the winter. Often, this means the inside of your walls where they can benefit from your climate control.
Should I Worry About Boxelder Bugs On My Property?
How much do you need to worry about boxelder bugs, though? What are these black and orange bugs? Boxelder bugs can cause a lot of damage to boxelder trees, but for the most part, they’re just a nuisance pest. Boxelder bugs don’t bite humans or spread disease. However, they often appear in large numbers around your house.
As they seek spaces to hide and show up in your home, they can be frustrating to deal with. Also, their fecal matter can leave red stains on furniture, carpet, clothing, or drapes. When squished, they may leave stains or give off an unpleasant smell.
Can I Prevent Boxelder Bugs?
Before boxelder bugs get into your home, you can help prevent them by closing off their entry points. Here are some important steps to take:
Check screens for tears or holes
Install door sweeps
Check the exterior of the home for holes and cracks and seal with caulking or steel wool
You can also prevent boxelder bugs by making sure you aren’t attracting them to your home. Focus on your landscaping by keeping trees and grass trimmed back away from the home. If you plant any new trees, plant them some distance from your home to avoid attracting pests. Clear your yard of organic debris which could draw boxelder bugs toward your home.
What Can You Do About An Infestation?
These prevention tips can help you keep boxelder bugs from entering your home at the beginning of autumn. However, if you’ve already begun to see boxelder bugs in your home, you’ll need a different approach.
Seal off entry points. Once boxelder bugs are already inside, you’ll end up with several dead boxelder bugs inside your walls. This may result in a bad smell and attract other pests.
Kill any boxelder bugs in your home. Use a vacuum, flush them down the toilet, or use a paper towel to carry them outside. Just remember that squishing them may stain fabrics around your home.
For the best professional help, contact J&M Pest Control. Whether you need prevention or elimination, we’re here to help. We offer an inspection program that can help you identify entry points and attractants and we will create a plan to prevent them from returning in the spring or fall.
Boxelder bugs can be a nuisance pest and you may feel they are impossible to get rid of. Don’t be fooled though! With help from J&M Pest Control, boxelder bugs can be controlled. We believe in customized, long-lasting results you can count on. Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control solutions.