KEEP BOXELDER BUGS OUT – PROTECT YOUR HOME THIS WINTER!

Summary
Boxelder bugs are nuisance pests that invade homes in the fall to overwinter. While harmless to humans, their presence can cause unsightly stains, odors, and infestations that last all winter. This guide explains proven methods to keep them outside and ensure your home stays pest-free.

Features

• Seal Entry Points: Close gaps, cracks, and crevices around windows, doors, and siding.

• Install Door Sweeps & Screens: Create a barrier to block insect entry.

• Remove Attracting Trees: Limit proximity to boxelder, maple, and ash trees.

• Apply Insecticides Outdoors: Treat exterior walls before the bugs enter.

• Maintain Yard Cleanliness: Clear leaves, debris, and overgrowth near the home.

• Schedule Preventive Maintenance: Inspect and reinforce barriers annually.

Guide Description 
Boxelder bugs are common across North America, especially in areas with boxelder, maple, or ash trees. In autumn, they gather on sunny exterior walls, searching for warm spots to enter homes. Once inside, they hide in wall voids, attics, and basements, reemerging during warm winter days.

Step 1: Identify Risk Factors
Homes near boxelder or maple trees are more prone to infestations. The bugs congregate in large numbers, so early intervention in late summer or early fall is key.

Step 2: Seal All Entry Points
Inspect the exterior for gaps around windows, doors, siding, vents, and utility penetrations. Use silicone or latex caulk to fill cracks, and weatherstripping to close gaps. This reduces entry opportunities for boxelder bugs and other pests.

Step 3: Install Door Sweeps and Window Screens
Adding door sweeps to exterior doors prevents insects from crawling in underneath. Ensure all windows and vents are fitted with fine-mesh screens without tears.

Step 4: Remove or Trim Host Trees
Boxelder bugs feed primarily on seeds from boxelder, maple, and ash trees. Removing female boxelder trees or trimming branches near your home can reduce their presence.

Step 5: Apply Insecticides Outdoors
In late summer or early fall, before the bugs enter, spray a residual insecticide along siding, eaves, and other potential entry points. This is most effective during warm days when the bugs are active but not yet indoors.

Step 6: Maintain a Clean Yard
Clear away piles of leaves, weeds, and plant debris near your home’s foundation. These can serve as temporary shelters for pests before they enter your home.

Step 7: Establish a Preventive Schedule
Inspect your home’s exterior yearly before fall. Reapply insecticide treatments and reseal any new gaps to ensure consistent protection.

By combining exclusion techniques, habitat modification, and timely treatments, you can keep boxelder bugs outside where they belong.

Other Tips

• Use a vacuum to remove bugs that make it indoors—avoid crushing them to prevent stains.

• Store firewood away from the house.

• Keep attic vents screened to prevent overwintering pests.

Conclusion
Preventing boxelder bugs from overwintering in your home starts with sealing entry points, maintaining your yard, and acting before they move in. A proactive approach in late summer and early fall ensures your winter remains pest-free.

← Previous Post Next Post →