Box Elder Bugs
Boxelder Bugs, Wow! If you’re looking to do some research on these pesky critters and the weather has been nice and sunny, you’ve probably noticed them clinging for life on the south or west sides of your home. Upon closer inspection, they’re probably congregating around downspouts and window frames.
They might be so numerous that they are flying around the rooms of your home. You may have seen them before, boxelder bugs, sometimes called maple bugs, are about one half inch long, and they are usually black or dark brown with a rather neat, cross-shaped design on their backs, which is red, orange or even yellow.
When the weather begins to warm up in Washington, these insects emerge from their hiding places and immediately look for something to eat. They feed on seeds and vegetation during the spring, but as the weather gets even warmer, they move into the boxelder or similar maple trees. During the day they sun themselves on the warmer sides of houses. There may or may not be a boxelder or maple tree on your property, as this beetle can fly up to a couple of miles. Chances are though, if you’re reading this, there’s one much closer than that.
As the weather begins to cool down in the late fall and winter, they leave the trees and often look for refuge in the cracks and crevices in your home where they become inactive until the next warm cycle begins. These insects are otherwise harmless, as they don’t bite humans nor do they cause damage to homes or plants. They are considered a nuisance pest, however, for most.
What can Blue Pest Control do for you?
We provide an evaluation of your Boxelder Bug problem. Most infestations are mild to moderate, but some cases are severe. Depending on the level of infestation, we work with you to provide a level of treatment that suits your needs, and your budget.
Mild to moderate cases generally require only a one-time treatment. Severe cases may require an additional treatment and a consultation on prevention of these insects.
Treatment may be limited depending on the size of your home. As we do not carry large ladders if you have a tall house.