Boxelder Bugs are also called maple bugs or zug bugs. Its scientific name is Boisea trivittata from the Kingdom Animalia and Phylum Arthropoda. Boxelder Bugs can be usually found on maple trees hence their other name maple bug. They also feast on Ash Bugs or Soapberry and considered pests.
They give off an overpowering and bitter substance as their defense mechanism when moved or faced with a predator. Boxelder bugs usually stay close to their food sometimes staying on shrubs, rocks, and other formations. During the winter season or colder weather, the bugs would infest homes sometimes staying on the walls.
They can be found across North America growing until half an inch long usually in black or brown color. They can also be seen on Eastern United States, Southern Canada, Guatemala, and Mexico. The bug’s eyes are red in color as well as the veins that run along its wings.
Boxelder Bugs are usually found outdoors during sunny and warm weather. On cooler days, they usually find places where there is warmth.
They sometimes mistake homes and buildings for hibernation grounds since these places give off warmth due to its heating system. The bugs do not stay alone during hibernation, they usually flock structures by groups and stay on walls.
Because of their number and their habit of hibernating on houses or buildings, humans see them as pests. They sometimes leave residues on the walls or surfaces they stay in. Bug excrements are also one of the biggest problems of homeowners.
Not like many other bugs, Boxelder bugs do not bite people and they rarely feast on houseplants though they still prefer the little moisture these plants give off inside the home. Though considered as pests, they cannot be called as agricultural pests since they cannot do large damages on plantations and buildings.
How to tell the difference between Boxelder Bugs and any other bugs?
Boxelder bugs can be mistaken for other bugs such as those from the Boisea rubrolineata species. To identify the Boxelder Bug from any other bug species, it has a unique body and color that is identifiable from other bugs.
They can grow up to 12 ½ mm or half an inch. The color of the bug’s body is brown or black. The eyes are red as well as veins running along its body such as the abdomen, sides, center, and behind the head.
The wings of the Boxelder Bugs can be seen laying flat against their backs usually forming an X pattern. Young bugs are usually born red but as they age, they will turn to their natural color of dark brown or black. The life cycle of the bugs can be seen during hotter days usually summer or spring while they hibernate during winter.
Boxelder Bugs Life Cycle
Boxelder bugs hibernate during the winter and come out during spring as weather conditions begin to heat up. Adult bugs feed on low plants and seeds during the spring and early summer.
In some cases, they will also feed on maple or ash trees but they do not damage the trees in any way. Their mating cycle begins shortly after they emerge for the winter – typically within two to three weeks after they begin feeding.
While boxelder bugs live outdoors during the spring and summer, when the temperatures begin to drop in the fall they will begin searching for a place to hibernate for the winter.
Adult boxelder bugs can live through the winter into the spring in order to reproduce again. They typically look for an indoor hibernation spot within a few blocks of their feeding and breeding ground but in some cases, they will travel as many as two miles to find the perfect spot.
There are several factors that make a home particularly appealing to boxelder bugs. Typically they look for warmer areas with more sunlight. A home with a substantial southern or western coverage is likely to be more appealing and they also tend to seek out the highest buildings around. There is no evidence that the color of a building makes a difference to boxelder bugs.
As summer turns into fall and the temperatures begin to drop, box elder bugs will look for cracks around the foundation of the home or they may attempt to enter the home through cracks or an opening in a window.
These bugs will stay active until the temperature goes down and it’s time to hibernate for the winter. Keep in mind that boxelder bugs are masterful at hiding and will often take up residence in walls, attics, and similar locations. As a result, if you see just a few of these bugs in your home, there’s a good chance that there are many more hidden where you can’t see them.
Boxelder bugs do not reproduce inside the home, but once the temperatures begin to rise in the spring, the surviving bugs will become active and search for a way out. Once they escape they will find seeds to feed upon and will begin the breeding cycle all over again. The best way to prevent an infestation in your home is to eradicate the population before they begin seeking a place for hibernation.
Can Boxelder Bugs live at home even though there are no trees?
Boxelder bugs usually host maple trees such as the maple ash, bigtooth maple, soft maple, silver maple, trident maple, river maple, and the soapberry.
During summer and spring or any sunny or hotter days, Boxelder bugs can be seen close to these trees whether in rocks or shrubs. They prefer warm places and sometimes rest on excrements.
When winter season or the cooler days approach, the bugs start to find places that can give them warmth for their hibernation usually in buildings and houses.
This is why Boxelder Bugs are regarded as pests as they usually stay in between walls or any part of the house they felt warm. For buildings and houses with a heating system during winter days, the Boxelder Bugs sometimes confuse it as the end of winter. The bugs will come out of their hibernation to find food and since its still winter, the house or building will be infested.
Why Boxelder Bugs Invade Homes
Many people are terrified of bugs. While boxelder bugs (also known as box elder bugs) are technically harmless, they can make people very uncomfortable or even frightened.
These small bugs are red, with black stripes and there can be thousands in a colony. But why do boxelder bugs come into people’s homes? Read on to learn more about the method behind their madness.
The first thing to understand is that box elder bugs like warmth. When you see them outside your property you likely see them on the sidewalk, in direct sun or in your garden. They will seek out any spot that gives them the warmth and sunlight they want.
As the months turn colder and the boxelder bugs can no longer find the warmth they’re looking for, they will begin to search for a winter home. If you’re the unlucky one, that home could be yours. Their goal is to find a warm place in which to hibernate for the winter. Once spring comes along, they’ll return to the outdoors and begin their next mating cycle.
If you notice a single bug in your home, pay close attention because there are likely many more. Boxelder bugs will hide in attics, basements, crawlspaces – anywhere that’s hidden. As a result, the one bug you see could mean thousands more are hiding in your home. That’s why it’s so important to act immediately if you spot even a single bug.
Boxelder bugs will choose a specific house for a few reasons. First, they like sunlight. If you happen to have a home that has a lot of direct sunlight and exposure, your home is likely more appealing to them.
While they can travel up to 2 miles, they typically like to stay close to the area in which they’ve spent their spring and summer. As a result, if you find bugs in your yard or garden, it’s likely they will attempt to enter your home as winter gets closer.
Boxelder bugs are also opportunists. If they find an easy way to get inside your home, they will take advantage of it. Common ways for them to get in include: cracks in the foundation, gaps between a window and the windowsill, doors with gaps underneath them and holes in window screens.
Your best method of dealing with these pests is to avoid them altogether, so take steps to close up any holes or gaps you find around your home.
While you’ll certainly find a boxelder bug infestation annoying, remember that these bugs are basically harmless. They don’t bite, they’re not poisonous and they won’t reproduce in your home.
In the worst-case scenario, they can stain your floors or other surfaces when crushed. However, these nuisances should still be avoided. If you’re worried that your home might be the perfect winter home for these bugs, take the time to seal your home, purchase pesticide and take action at the first sign of infestation.
Do Boxelder Bugs Survive Winter Season?
Not all Boxelder bugs survive the winter season. As spring comes and they start to feed again in low places until early summer, Boxelder bugs would usually reproduce on Boxelder trees’ branch, leaves, and trunk. The nymphs will be abundant in summer and sometimes fall.
When the cooler days come, adult boxelder bugs would relocate for their hibernation. Nymphs would not survive the winter. They can be seen around fall but only adults can last until spring. There are plenty of Boxelder bugs that flock on homes but individuals usually last only for a week.
In their hibernation on cold days, bugs are not active. They can only mobilize if they can feel warmth but they will stay still during the cold. The bugs who can survive the winter until spring would normally leave their shelters but some might be trapped in homes and buildings. Although some homes have this case, Boxelder bugs cannot reproduce and lay their eggs on houses.
Tips on Box Elder Bug Control
Boxelder bugs usually enter homes or buildings during late fall and all throughout winter. They do this to hibernate and they are usually inactive during this period.
While they do not bite humans or destroy plants at home, they can leave marks on walls and their excrement can be left in places where they stay. Even after the end of winter, some boxelder bugs would fail to go out from their hiding place.
Owners can prevent the bugs from staying at their homes or buildings by repairing or changing the doors or windows. Close all places that have an entry point such as the opening for the water pipe or chords from any electric or phone lines.
Doors should also be sealed at the sides and bottom to prevent bugs from entering through these slits. If houses use screens, they should inspect it or change the ones with holes.
- If you really wanted to have boxelder trees in your backyard, plant male boxelder trees only. The boxelder bugs like boxelder trees that are female trees. These bugs can fly, and will populate nearby trees so it is important to tell your neighbors to plant male trees only and not female box elder bugs.
- Collect the bugs by hand. You can pick up the bugs using your hands one by one and then store them in a container. But it is still advisable that you use gloves so that your skin will not be irritated. After you have collected them, you can toss the box elder bugs outside or kill them through drowning and squishing.
- You can easily squish the box elder bugs because they cluster. You can squish them using a roll of magazines or an object that you can use for squishing. But if your house has a wall that is painted white, this is not advisable because they can stain your walls.
- You can suck the bugs using a vacuum cleaner. This is one easy way of box elder bugs control. You just have to direct the nozzle to the insects.
- You can also use some insect spray. Because the insects cluster together, you can simply spray insect sprays to them. You can buy a commercial one or juts mix some laundry soap and water.
- Clean your yard and house. These boxelder bugs want to cluster and take shelter to pile of leaves and woods that are scattered in the yard.
- Make sure that all windows have screens and that screens are free from holes and rips.
- Check fans and vents to be sure that they’re properly insulted in the areas they leave your home.
- Find areas where cable or phone lines leave the home and make sure they’re properly sealed.
- If you find smaller areas that aren’t properly sealed, utilize caulk to seal them.
- Larger gaps or holes can be filled with copper mesh, polyurethane expandable spray foam, or another type of appropriate sealant.
- Seal the bottom of the entry doors and garage doors.
How and When to Use Insecticides on Boxelder Bugs
The first thing you need to understand is that these bugs will not enter your home as long as it’s warm outside. It’s only during the colder months that they look for a place to overwinter.
If you notice bugs in your home at the beginning of spring there is no reason to take any action beyond removing the bugs you see. These bugs are simply looking for a way out of your home.
However, if you see many bugs outside your home during the summer and early fall months, then this is the time to take action. As soon as it begins to get cooler they will start to look for ways into a warm environment and it may be your home. You can start by ensuring that your home is sealed up. Then it’s time to move on to using insecticides.
There are a few things you should look for as you select an insecticide. First, choose an option that specifically says it’s successful at treating boxelder bug infestations. Remember that an insecticide that’s right for one bug won’t necessarily be effective on another.
Next, make sure that it’s approved for outdoor use. Some of the most common active ingredients used for boxelder bugs include lambda cyhalothrin, cyfluthrin, tralomethrin, and bifenthrin.
Once you’ve selected a pesticide, take note of where you’re noticing the most box elder bugs around your property. Then, following the directions on the can, spray this area with the insecticide you’ve chosen.
If this doesn’t take care of the problem then it may become necessary to hire a professional pest control company. Never mix pesticides, as the mixing of different chemicals can be toxic.
As you look for the best ways to handle boxelder bugs, it’s important to understand what won’t work. While these bugs do tend to stick close to box elder trees, it’s not typically worth it to remove the tree.
They can travel for miles to get food so the presence or absence of a tree is not necessarily an indicator that you’ll have an infestation. Additionally, indoor insecticides are not typically recommended.
How to Use Pesticides on Boxelder Bugs
Various chemical substances in industrial pesticides can easily deal with boxelder bug contamination. The most common ones are bifenthrin, cyfulthrin, and tralomethrin. Other options include lambda cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, and permethrin.
Check the label of the pesticide you’re considering to ensure they have one of these active ingredients. While a spray pesticide is the best choice for the exterior of your home, a pesticide should only be used indoors if you already have a large cluster of box elder bugs.
An effective indoor pesticide such as Cynoff WP or CyKick CS includes the natural substance known as pyrethrin. Additionally, you can use sprays like Cyonara LP, NiBan, and Demand G throughout your property.
Use the pesticide in crevices in order to wipe out the entire colony of box elder bugs. Aerosols like Air-Devil HPX, Invader HPX, or Microcare are generally good choices. Always spray thoroughly to get rid of all box elder bugs, because a small infestation now can lead to many more insects in the spring and fall.
Boxelder bugs may not be damaging but they’re certainly annoying for everyone. Having hundreds of bugs running through your home can make your entire household feel uneasy and can cause hygiene concerns.
Pesticides are reasonably priced and can easily be bought in local stores and from online retailers. Keep in mind that it’s not enough to simply kill the box elder bugs you see. In order to eliminate them all, you need to eradicate the entire colony.
How to Choose the Best Pesticide for Boxelder Bugs?
The most important factor to look for in a pesticide is safety. Not all pesticides are made to be used indoors. If you have pets, be sure that any pesticide you use – whether indoors or outdoors – is safe to be used around pets.
People with gardens should also look for a natural, non-toxic pesticide that won’t harm their plants. Always check to ensure that the pesticide you choose is made specifically to control box elder bugs. For example, ant spray will not be effective on these types of bugs.
Eliminating an outdoor box elder bug population is typically most easily achieved in the spring months when the bugs begin to build their colonies. If you spot a few around your property, it’s likely they’re making their home in your foundation or other crevices. When you find their colony you can spray it with any number of box elder bug pesticides, including permethrin, cyhalothrin, and cyfulthrin.
Boxelder bug pesticides can be found in local stores or can be purchased online. In addition to spraying their colony, spray around the periphery of the building to prevent the surviving bugs from creating a new colony.
The inside of your home should only be sprayed if there is an interior infestation. This typically only happens in the fall as the boxelder bugs look for a warmer area to live throughout the winter.
If you’re sure to handle exterior infestations before fall, it’s unlikely that you’ll have them in your home at all. However, if you do have bugs in the home, purchase a pesticide made for interior use, remove pets or children from the home and follow the directions on the pesticide.
In some extreme cases, it may be necessary to call an exterminator. This will typically only be the case if you can’t locate their colony or if you’ve treated the bugs yourself and they continue to stick around. However, in most cases, an organic, non-toxic pesticide will get rid of box elder bugs quickly.