If your backyard proudly sports boxelder or maple trees, you are likely familiar with boxelder bugs. These 1/2-inch-long bugs are not likely to bite or do much damage to the trees they feed on. A boxelder bug infestation is usually accompanied by a very unpleasant stench they use as a predator deterrent. Add to that their proclivity of trying to winter in the walls of your home, and it's clear to see why no one looks forward to sharing their living space with these smelly little guys.
Let's take a look at what a boxelder bug looks like, problems that come calling with their arrival on your property, how to keep boxelder bugs away, and what Riverton pest control specialists advise as the best approach to boxelder bug removal.
Boxelder Bugs Are Pretty Easy To Identify
Boxelder bugs are usually first seen in late March or early April as they start to make their way out of their overwintering places. They are 1/2-inch long insects, black in color with a distinctive bright red edging on their bodies. Their bodies are oval-shaped and flat in appearance when seen from above, with adult bugs sporting wings.
Boxelder bugs start their existence as yellow-colored eggs laid by females on stones, under grass, and in the bark of trees. The eggs turn red as the embryo matures and hatch two weeks after being laid. They feed on boxelder seeds and maple leaves, as well as being somewhat partial to apples and plums in the later parts of the year.
Why A Boxelder Bug Infestation Can Be Problematic
While the damage boxelder bugs inflict on the trees is usually minimal, their habit of finding a warm secluded place to over-winter can quickly become problematic.
In nature, boxelder bugs will try and find their way under the bark of dead trees or hide away in piles of leaves and debris that provide good cover and insulation from the cold. Unfortunately, when there is a house in the vicinity, these bugs find making their way inside its walls and spending the winter bundled up in the insulation a much-preferred approach. Come spring; these little invaders start coming out from the walls, often making their smelly presence obvious inside the home.
Boxelder bugs do not bite, but their mouthparts can sometimes pierce the skin, producing an irritation similar to a mosquito bite. Once boxelder bugs make their way into your Riverton home, their droppings can stain the fabric of clothing or curtains and release an unpleasant smell if crushed.
Factors That Attract Boxelder Bugs To Your Home
Boxelder bugs in Riverton hold no interest in your pantry and are not about to start a colony within your home's walls. They are attracted to your house purely as a comfortable place to spend the cold winter months. Having boxelder or maple trees on your property raises the risk of a boxelder bug infestation as well.
To make it harder for bugs to get inside:
Seal cracks and crevices in the outside walls and foundation
Keep door and windows screens in good shape
Use weatherstripping and door sweeps
Boxelder bugs can be removed from the house walls using a vacuum. Make sure not to crush them. Dead boxelder bugs attract a number of other bugs that see boxelder bugs as a food source.
Call The Pros To Get Rid Of A Boxelder Bug Infestation
Thanks to their habit of hiding within house walls and the danger of attracting more bugs by leaving dead boxelder bugs within them, getting rid of boxelder bugs at your Riverton property is usually best left to a professional.
At Tanner Pest Control, our technicians are trained and experienced in removing these bugs, as well as a myriad of other pests, from Riverton area homes. If your property is infested with boxelder bugs-give us a call today to get started and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Riverton.