Boxelder bugs, also known as box elder bugs, aren’t particularly harmful, nor do they destroy property or plants, but they can be quite the nuisance. Like many bugs, where you find one you’re likely to find hundreds or thousands more. While they tend to stick to warm, sunny, outdoor areas during the summer months, as the temperatures drop they’ll look for ways to get inside your home.
The easiest option for handling these bugs is to get rid of the boxelder population while they’re still outdoors. There will be differences in how you address this situation if your home is stucco, plaster, stone or brick veneer, compared to how a home made from vinyl siding is treated. However, there are a few methods that are common to all types of homes:
• Make sure that all windows have screens and that screens are free from holes and rips.
• Check fans and vents to be sure that they’re properly insulted in the areas they leave your home.
• Find areas where cable or phone lines leave the home and make sure they’re properly sealed.
• If you find smaller areas that aren’t properly sealed, utilize caulk to seal them.
• Larger gaps or holes can be filled with copper mesh, polyurethane expandable spray foam, or another type of appropriate sealant.
• Seal the bottom of entry doors and garage doors.
The above steps are designed to help you prevent the bugs from gaining entrance to your home. Remember that even the smallest crack or hole can allow a bug in, and once one bug is in, hundreds of bugs can follow.
Homes made with plaster, stucco, stone or brick veneer may need special care. Look for gaps that are 1/8th of an inch or larger. Check roof lines and fascia boards to ensure that you don’t have any gaps. However – if you have a stone or brick veneer home, be careful of holes on the bottom of your home called ‘weep holes.’ These holes should not be sealed under any circumstances but you can purchase vents for them at your local hardware store.
If your house has been constructed with vinyl siding, you’ll have your own unique concerns. Because these homes are built in such a way that they have many gaps along each wall, you won’t be able to seal the home completely. However, if you’ve noticed bugs around your home now or in the past, you can use insecticides to get rid of the bugs that you see and to prevent bugs from coming back in the future. Look for insecticides that are specifically designed for use on boxelder bugs and for outdoor use.