#BOXELDER BUGS WINDOWS#

When the bugs begin to congregate on building exteriors, these areas (including all resting and hiding places) may be sprayed with residual insecticides. Once boxelder bugs have entered the home, control becomes more difficult. Screening or sealing cracks or other entrances into the dwelling is important. Because boxelder bugs usually overwinter near the trees that they feed on, the removal of one or two problem trees may help. The most permanent solution to the boxelder bug problem is the removal of female boxelder trees from a neighborhood, although this may not be practical or desirable. On rare occasions, they have been reported to bite humans. They may attempt to feed on house plants but do not cause any damage. They do not reproduce during this period. They also may stain draperies and other light-colored surfaces and produce an unpleasant odor when crushed, but these are not major problems.

These young bugs usually are found on low vegetation near boxelder trees until seeds are formed on the tree, on which they start to feed.īoxelder bugs are primarily a nuisance pest, annoying residents by crawling on exteriors and inside dwellings on warm fall and winter days. The eggs later hatch into young nymphs that are wingless and bright red with some black markings. In the spring when tree buds open, females lay small, red eggs on leaves (Figure 2) and stones and in cracks and crevices in the bark of female boxelder trees.

#BOXELDER BUGS WINDOWS#

The boxelder bug overwinters as an adult in protected places such as houses and other buildings, in cracks or crevices in walls, doors, under windows and around foundations, particularly on south and west exposures. These bugs seldom develop in sufficient numbers to be a nuisance unless a female boxelder tree is in the neighborhood. Boxelder bugs become a nuisance in and around homes from fall through early spring.īoxelder bugs feed on a variety of plants, but their favorite food is boxelder seed pods, which are found only on the female boxelder tree, and occasionally maple seeds. The small milkweed bug (Figure 4) and the goldenrain tree bug (Figure 5) are local insects that are sometimes confused with boxelder bugs. The immature forms (Figure 3) are smaller and are easily distinguished from the adults (Figure 1) by their red abdomens and lack of wings.

This bug is about 1/2 inch long as an adult, black with three red lines on the thorax (the part just behind the head), a red line along each side, and a diagonal red line on each wing. Cranshaw.)įor most people, the boxelder bug needs no introduction. Peairs.)įigure 4: The small milkweed bug is a seed feeding bug that resembles the boxelder bug.įigure 5: Goldenrain tree bug is sometimes confused with the boxelder bug. (Photo courtesy of Clemson University Extension.)įigure 2: Boxelder bug eggs on leaf. Laundry detergents offer safe, effective control when applied directly to the insects.įigure 1: Boxelder bug.Removing female boxelder trees is the most permanent solution to the problem, although this may not be practical or desirable.The bug overwinters as an adult in protected places such as houses or other buildings.Boxelder bugs are a nuisance in and around homes from fall through early spring.