If you have boxelder trees on your property, this is even more likely, as the boxelder prefers to live near (or on) its source of food.
If they can make their way inside, they’ll likely fill every void in the walls or similar spaces that they can. It’s unusual for boxelder bugs to cause structural damage to your home in the way that a termite infestation can.Īs we mentioned prior, the boxelders are seeking warmth. The longer you wait, the worse the infestation will inevitably get.
#Boxelder bugs professional
If you see that boxelder bugs have made their way into your home, it’s important to call professional extermination services as soon as possible in order to treat the infestation. Boxelders can do cosmetic, not structural, damage to your home Typically, this means finding shelter under plant debris and in the bark of trees, however, if they’re able to detect the warmth of your home they may access it through cracks in siding, the home’s foundation, or other entry points. They’ll gather on the warm, sunny sides of the home, and will soon begin their hibernation process. The same is true for the late-summer and early-fall months when the bugs are beginning to prepare for overwintering (hibernation). We typically see boxelders on the west and south sides of homes and structures when treating these pests. Like many insects, boxelders make themselves known in the spring, and will seek out the more sunlit areas of your home. Boxelders are seeking warmth, and may find it in your home As we would with any potential allergic reaction to a pest, we recommend seeking medical assistance if you or a loved one has been exposed to an allergen.
Some people may possess seasonal allergies to the boxelder bug, though studies are still being conducted on the subject. They are capable of biting, but this is very rare. Boxelder bugs do not typically pose a threat to peopleĪgain, the boxelder is a nuisance pest, and does not pose a threat to humans. This threatens the tree’s health and can cause fruit to fall prematurely. Though the damage they cause to these trees and plants is not on par with agricultural pests like locusts, stink bugs, or armyworms, boxelders can cause scarring on the trees they feed on, creating an appearance much like cork. They have even been found to feed on strawberry plants. If they must, they will also nest and feed on other trees, particularly ash, apple, and almond. Boxelder bugs are nuisance pests, but can cause agricultural damageĪs their name suggests, boxelder bugs prefer to feed on the sap, leaves, twigs, and seeds of boxelder maple trees. Their antennae, also black, feature reddish orange bands, and their eyes are large, red, and bulbous.įully grown boxelder bugs can measure up to one-half inch in length (approximately 13 millimeters).īoxelder nymphs, the insects in their adolescent state, are entirely red in color until they reach maturity. These winged insects have an exoskeleton that ranges from a very dark brown to black in color, and its wings, thorax, and abdomen are outlined by a bright reddish orange color. Boxelder bugs have a very distinct appearanceīoxelder bugs, named for the boxelder maple trees they prefer to nest in and feed on, have a very distinct appearance in their mature state.