Ah, spring. A time for budding flowers, warmer weather, and emerging insects. Learn how to prevent spring insects in your home.
What is a Boxelder Bug?
You can identify a boxelder bug by its oval-like black body and reddish-orange markings along its back.
Boxelder bugs get their strange name from the boxelder tree they flock to for nutrients. Common in the western United States, boxelder bugs emerge from their winter diapause (a sort of bug hibernation) in early spring and become a harmless, if stinky, nuisance.
Conducive Conditions for Boxelder Bugs
What attracts boxelder bugs? As with most pests, food and shelter are two of the biggest conducive conditions you should pay attention to.
Food
Boxelder bugs feed mostly on fallen boxelder seeds but have been known to feed on fruit from plum and apple trees.
Shelter
Boxelder bugs appear in spring and mainly live outdoors as they feed. In fall, boxelder bugs seek sunny patches (usually on the southern sides of buildings or trees) and congregate near garages, sheds, and homes to migrate when temperatures start to drop.
Keep Boxelder Bugs Out of Your Home
Boxelder bugs can be immune to store-bought chemical pest control sprays. The best way to keep boxelder bugs from taking over your home is to prevent them from getting in in the first place. Like many pests, boxelder bugs can crawl into your home through the smallest opening, so seal cracks in doorframes and fix window screens before fall.
The best defense against most pests is prevention, but if you find yourself overrun with boxelder bugs come fall or winter, contact our team. Natura Pest Control has the knowledge and experience to help you solve your pest problems for good. Call us at (360) 506-6071 or reach out online to learn more!
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