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Box Elder Bugs Guide

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Boxelder Bug Identification Guide

Boxelder bugs are overwintering pests, meaning they seek shelter indoors during the fall to survive the winter. Homeowners often notice these bugs around doors and windows in the fall as they look for entry points, and again in the spring when they emerge from hiding in search of food.

If you suspect boxelder bugs on your property, use this guide to confirm their identification. For treatment options, refer to our guide on how to get rid of boxelder bugs for effective solutions.

Boxelder Bug - Size

Boxelder bugs start small, measuring only 0.06 inches (1.5 millimeters) as young nymphs. As they mature, adults typically grow to between 0.4 and 0.55 inches in length.

Boxelder Bug - Shape

Boxelder bugs have bodies shaped like sunflower seeds. They feature two antennae on their heads, six legs, and flat wings.

Boxelder Bug - Color

Adult boxelder bugs are black with distinct red lines along their bodies and wings. Nymphs are bright red when they hatch, gradually turning black as they age.

Boxelder Bug - Range

Boxelder bugs are found throughout the United States, particularly in areas with boxelder and maple trees, as they feed on the leaves of these trees.

If you’ve noticed boxelder bugs in or around your home, use our guide on where boxelder bugs hide to confirm an active infestation. Click the arrow below to learn more.

Sanitation

Maintaining cleanliness is essential in reducing the likelihood of pests setting up residence near or inside your home. Effective sanitation involves more than just cleaning up food spills; it requires modifying the environment to deprive pests of their necessities: food, water, and shelter.

Tips on How to Sanitize Your Home Against Pests

  1. Trim back tree branches and shrubs to prevent them from touching your home and to allow more sunlight onto your lawn, which helps reduce moisture.
  2. Keep bushes and shrubs well-trimmed to eliminate hiding spots for small animals, snakes, and insects.
  3. Pull back mulch, pine straw, and other landscaping materials at least six inches from your structure to create a less appealing barrier for pests.
  4. Avoid overwatering your garden or lawn. Aerate your lawn to improve drainage in moist areas.
  5. Clean gutters and downspouts regularly to prevent pests from nesting.
  6. Mow your lawn regularly to keep grass short and less hospitable to pests.
  7. Remove yard debris like grass clippings, leaf piles, and stacked wood to reduce pest hiding spots.
  8. Store outdoor trash cans and dumpsters away from your structure with tightly fitting lids.
  9. Clean trash containers regularly with an ammonia-based solution to minimize odors and bacteria.
  10. Vacuum frequently inside your home, store food in sealed containers, and keep areas free of crumbs.

Where Do Boxelder Bugs Hide?

In the fall, you may spot black and red bugs clustering on the exterior of your home or office. These are boxelder bugs, classified as overwintering pests. As temperatures drop, they attempt to enter structures to hibernate through the winter months.

Once boxelder bugs and other overwintering pests gain entry, removing them can be challenging. The most effective strategy is to prevent an infestation before it starts.

Read our guide below to learn where boxelder bugs commonly hide in and around homes. If you discover boxelder bugs indoors, refer to our guide on how to get rid of boxelder bugs for detailed treatment options.

Where Do Boxelder Bugs Hide Indoors?

When boxelder bugs enter your home, they seek out small nooks, voids, and undisturbed spaces to hibernate through the winter. They typically remain hidden during this time, so homeowners often don’t notice them until spring. As temperatures rise, boxelder bugs emerge from their winter hiding spots and attempt to move outdoors in search of food.

Common Winter Hiding Spots:

  • Storage areas
  • Attics
  • Basements
  • Crawlspaces
  • Inside cabinets and cupboards
  • Closets
  • Beneath appliances
  • In undisturbed fabrics like curtains or guest room bedding
  • Cracks and crevices

Where Boxelder Bugs Are Found in Spring:

  • Around doors
  • Near windows
  • Close to light fixtures

Knowing where boxelder bugs hide can help you locate and address an infestation effectively.

Where Are Boxelder Bugs Found Outside the Home?

Boxelder bugs are most noticeable outdoors in the fall, either gathering in groups or appearing individually. They are often seen in the following locations:

Common Outdoor Locations for Boxelder Bugs:

  • Around or in boxelder and silver maple trees
  • Near doors
  • Around windows
  • On or near bushes
  • On the sunniest side of the house
  • Inside outdoor sheds
  • In tree houses

If you’ve spotted boxelder bugs inside your home, consult our guide on how to get rid of boxelder bugs to address the infestation.

If you see boxelder bugs outside but they haven’t entered your home yet, consider performing a preventative treatment to keep them out. Visit our boxelder bug prevention guide for more information.

How to Eliminate Boxelder Bugs

How to Get Rid of Boxelder Bugs

Boxelder bugs are overwintering pests, meaning they seek warm shelter as temperatures drop in the fall to survive the winter. Unfortunately, that shelter is often inside homes, leading to potential infestations.

During the winter, boxelder bugs typically remain hidden in their chosen spots, so homeowners rarely see them. However, as temperatures rise in the spring, these pests emerge from their hiding places and try to move outdoors in search of food.

Although boxelder bugs don’t bite or spread disease, they can reproduce quickly. Additionally, their excrement can stain walls and floors when disturbed or crushed.

Read our guide below for effective strategies to control a boxelder bug infestation and protect your home.

Step1 Apply a Liquid Insecticide Indoors

Choose an insecticide labeled for boxelder bugs, such as Suspend SC or Talstar P. Mix the product with water in a hand pump sprayer, following the label instructions, and spot treat areas in rooms where boxelder bugs have been observed:

Key Areas to Treat:

  • Room corners
  • Baseboard edges where they meet the wall
  • Utility pipe entry points
  • Door and window frames
  • Beneath appliances and sinks

Products we recommend for Step 1

Pro Tip

Keep children and pets out of treated areas for 1-2 hours or until the insecticide has completely dried.

Step2 Treat Hard-to-Reach Areas with Insecticide Dust

How to Apply Dusts Effectively

Boxelder bugs often hide in voids, cracks, and crevices during the winter and emerge from these same spaces in the spring. Using an insecticide dust is an effective way to target these hard-to-reach areas.

Choose an insecticide dust labeled for boxelder bugs, such as EcoVia WD, and pair it with a bellow hand duster. Fill the duster halfway with the dust, invert it so the lid faces downward, and apply 1-2 puffs per application in the following areas:

Key Application Areas:

  • Along the edges where baseboards meet the floor
  • Beneath appliances and furniture
  • Around pipe entry points
  • Under sinks
  • In wall voids behind outlet covers
  • Around door and window frames
  • In attic and closet corners
  • In other cracks and crevices throughout the home

Application Tips:

  • Follow the insecticide label for spacing between applications.
  • Avoid over-applying, as boxelder bugs may avoid large concentrations of dust in one spot.

Products we recommend for Step 2

Pro Tip

Use glue boards to monitor your boxelder bug infestation. Place them near doors, windows, and room corners where bugs have been seen. Glue boards will help capture stray bugs and reveal their hiding spots.

You should notice a reduction in boxelder bug activity within days to weeks after treatment. If activity persists, reapply the insecticide after 30 days as needed.

Remember, the most effective way to handle boxelder bugs is to prevent them from entering your home in the first place. Check out our guide on how to prevent a boxelder bug infestation for tips on sealing your home against these overwintering pests. Click the arrow below to learn more.

Boxelder Bug Prevention Guide

Boxelder bugs are relatively harmless but can become a nuisance when they enter homes during the winter to escape cold temperatures. Once inside, they can multiply quickly and leave unsightly stains when crushed or disturbed.

The most effective way to manage boxelder bugs is to prevent them from entering your home in the first place. This guide will help you protect your home from boxelder bugs and other overwintering pests.

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Step1 Treat Your Home for Boxelder Bugs

Pest Control Superstore offers an Overwintering Pest Kit that includes everything you need to prevent a boxelder bug infestation in your home. Continue reading to learn how to use each component of the kit effectively.

Products we recommend for Step 1

Step1.1 Apply Insecticide Spray to the Exterior of Your Home

General Treatment for Boxelder Bugs and Other Pests

To prevent boxelder bugs and other pests from entering your home, apply an insecticide labeled for boxelder bugs, such as Talstar P, around your home's exterior. Begin treatment as temperatures start to drop, but before the first frost.

Prepare the insecticide by mixing it with water in a hand pump sprayer according to the product label. Then, spray the following areas around your home:

Key Areas to Treat:

  • Up to 3 feet high on the sunniest side of the house or structure, as overwintering pests often gather in warm, sunny areas.
  • 3 feet outward from the foundation around the entire perimeter of your home.
  • Around eaves and soffits.
  • Near outdoor light fixtures.
  • Around door and window frames.
  • In areas where caulking around doors and windows is cracked or open.
  • At points where utility pipes and wires enter the home.

By treating these areas, you can create a protective barrier to keep boxelder bugs and other overwintering pests out.

Step1.2 Apply Insecticide Spray Indoors

Prepare an insecticide labeled for boxelder bugs, such as Talstar P, by mixing it with water in a hand pump sprayer according to the product label. Use the spray to target the following areas inside your home:

Key Indoor Treatment Areas:

  • Beneath sinks.
  • Under appliances.
  • Around utility pipe entry points.
  • Along door and window frames.
  • In room corners.
  • Where baseboards meet the wall.
  • In crawlspaces.
  • In basements.

Important: Avoid broadcast spraying entire floors or walls indoors. Allow treated areas to dry for 1-2 hours before allowing children or pets to re-enter the rooms.

Step1.3 Apply Insecticide Dust for Long-Lasting Protection

How to Effectively Use Dusts and Dusters

Insecticide dust is an excellent option for safeguarding your home from boxelder bugs and other overwintering pests. It’s particularly effective in hard-to-reach areas, such as wall voids and cracks, and offers long-lasting protection.

To incorporate insecticide dust into your boxelder bug prevention strategy, choose a product labeled for boxelder bugs, such as EcoVia WD, and apply it using a bellow hand duster. Target the following areas:

Key Application Areas:

  • Inside wall voids behind outlet covers.
  • In attic and closet corners.
  • In cracks and crevices throughout the home.
  • Where baseboards meet carpets.
  • Around utility entry points, such as cables and pipes.
  • Along door and window frames.
  • Beneath sinks.
  • Under appliances.
  • Around soffits.

Application Tip: Use 1-2 puffs of dust per application. Over-applying can be counterproductive, as pests may avoid areas with excessive dust buildup.

Step2 Maintain Your Home and Yard

Keeping your home and yard well-maintained is a simple yet highly effective way to prevent boxelder bugs from entering your living space. Implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles enhances the success of your preventative efforts.

Best Practices for Pest Prevention:

  • Repair torn window screens to block entry points.
  • Install door sweeps on external doors to seal gaps.
  • Clean gutters regularly to remove debris.
  • Seal gaps where utilities enter your home using steel mesh or Xcluder cloth.
  • Use caulk to seal cracks and crevices around the house.
  • Vacuum frequently to eliminate crumbs and reduce pest attractants.
  • Maintain a clean home, especially in the kitchen.
  • Create a "barrier zone" by keeping pine straw, mulch, or bark at least 6 inches away from your home's foundation.

For additional guidance on Integrated Pest Management, explore our general pest prevention guide.

We hope this guide has been helpful! If you're unsure whether you have boxelder bugs in or around your home, check out our guide on what boxelder bugs look like to confirm their identity. Our guide on where boxelder bugs hide will help you locate them, and if you discover an infestation, refer to how to get rid of boxelder bugs for effective treatment solutions.

If you have any questions about boxelder bugs, other overwintering pests, or the products mentioned in this guide, contact our expert customer service team or email us.

Call Us

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm ET

Email Our Pros

We’re here to help

Live Chat

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