If you were asked what the worst insect pest in America was, what would you say?

• Ants?
• Cockroaches?
• Wasps?

Right second time. The EPA lists cockroaches as the worst pests for public health. But boxelder bugs?

Chances are you haven’t heard of them. But when you’ve got a boxelder bug infestation, boy do you know about it. 

They swarm and they can emerge in their hundreds – so how can you take care of them? Read on to find out.

What Are Boxelder Bugs?

Boxelder bugs are flying bugs that are native to the western part of the United States. They have now spread throughout the country and are known for their distinctive orange pattern. They’re about half an inch long and they have three orange stripes behind their heads.

Most years, you never have to think about them. But if there’s a hot, dry summer followed by a warm spring, their numbers can skyrocket. Get a structural engineer inspection in the fall after these conditions and it might turn up an infestation.

They won’t damage your home. But they can stain drapes and walls with their poop. And it’s very unpleasant to have them swarming inside your house.

How Do Buildings Get Infested?

Boxelder bugs like warmth and southern exposures (don’t we all?). As the weather starts to get cooler, they can start looking for a place to bed down for the winter, leading to a fall infestation. You may not realize that they’ve infested your home if you have them in the attic or they get into the structure of the walls. 

They settle down during the winter and become active again as the weather warms in the spring. This is when they will try to get out of your house and start swarming indoors.

How to Get Rid of Bugs

Here’s the good news – boxelder bugs don’t reproduce indoors.

They also don’t live for very long. So don’t worry about eradicating every last one so that you don’t get a breeding population. They are totally different from cockroaches in this respect.

Your best line of attack is to manually remove every single bug. Grab your vacuum cleaner and start chasing them with the hand-held attachment. A broom will work as well.

They can be attracted to houseplants as they are looking for water. Inspect them carefully to suck up any lurking in that area.

Spraying insecticides is not particularly effective. It also won’t stop them from coming in. Many do not survive the winter, so it’s not particularly effective to treat the infestation.

Pesticide Treatments

If boxelder bugs are becoming a yearly problem pesticides can help. They are applied externally to prevent the bugs from hanging out in your home during the fall. Pest control companies can apply this treatment or carefully follow the instructions on the bottle.

Eliminating Boxelder Bugs

Boxelder bugs only invade homes under certain weather conditions, so they are unlikely to be a problem every year. If a house inspection has shown you have them, consider using a pesticide to stop them from coming back. Otherwise, grab your vacuum and remove them from your home one by one.

If you’ve enjoyed these pest control tips, head over to our Home Advice section for more!