One afternoon when I was watching my sons play in the backyard andt I was suddenly startled by a scream coming from the side of the house. My oldest son had discovered his very first boxelder bug. In fact, they must have sensed his love for them because the entire window was filled with the creepy crawlers! My son frantically asked me all about these bugs, why they were there, and how to get them away from our house.
Boxelder bugs are a species of true bugs, also called “maple bugs”, that typically come out during the spring and fall. When they do emerge, they can quickly become a nuisance both inside and outside of the home. We put together 6 natural tips to help keep these pesky boxelder bugs away from your house.
6 Ways to Get Rid of Boxelder Bugs Naturally
There are ways to help keep these bugs out of your home without the use of harmful chemicals or pesticides— or calling an expensive exterminator. Here are different methods homeowners should try for boxelder bug control:
- Use a vinegar water mixture
- Use a dish soap and water mixture
- Use tea tree or another strong scented essential oil
- Vacuum, clean, and de-clutter your home
- Clean up the landscaping around your home
- Seal entryways into your home
1. Vinegar
A mix made with one part white vinegar and one part water can help you get rid of your boxelder bug infestation. The vinegar will destroy any scent trails left by the insects, help clean the area of any urine, and deter future pests from gathering because of the strong smell.
2. Dish Soap
Similar to vinegar, a soapy water mix can be made with one part dish soap and one part water to get rid of your boxelder bug infestation. One key difference is that the spray may kill the pests. However, it doesn’t have to be used this way. You can use the dish soap as a deterrent and cleaner after removing the unwanted pests from the area using a different method.
3. Essential Oils
Strong scents may deter these pests from entering your home in the first place. There are a number of essential oils that could work to deter unwanted bugs from entering your home and they include:
- Tea tree
- Lavender
- Eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Citronella
- Lemongrass
For each one of these oils you can mix 10 drops of oil per cup of water in a spray bottle to use around your house. Spraying essential oils around the windows and other areas of your house will also leave a pleasant smell. Make sure you research oils prior to using them to make sure you are aware of any associated risks.
4. Vacuum & Clean
If the bugs are already inside of your home, make sure you start decluttering and eliminating any place where these pests can hide. Get rid of unwanted junk and clean everywhere, including dark areas that are rarely touched. If you find a swarm of bugs somewhere, then use your vacuum cleaner to suck them up and bring your vacuum bag outside to quickly release them.
5. Tidy Up the Landscape Around Your Home
Clean up your yard and the exterior of your home. Boxelder bugs enjoy logs, leaves, trees, bushes and anything else they can use to hide from uncomfortable weather and predators. Their primary food source is the seeds, sap, and seed pods of boxelder trees so simple landscaping tasks like picking up leaves, covering up your logs and trimming your boxelder trees are a great place to start. The less likely these bugs are to gather right outside of your home, the less likely they are to come inside.
6. Seal Entryways
Go around the perimeter of your home and start inspecting your window screens, door sweeps, dryer vents and window sills to look for any potential entry points. Seal cracks and any crevices you find with caulk or weather stripping and consider a dryer vent cover. These pests are looking for a warm area to call home so no space is off limits, no matter how small the entry point.
How and When Do Boxelder Bugs Get Into Your Home?
Windows and doors make for easy access into your home. These are the most common places that you will see large numbers of boxelder bugs, as they come in through these areas looking for cover from outside elements. Windows are a great place to relax. Think about it—they’re warm, they are off the ground, and they house little cracks and crevices to hide out when danger approaches
Window sills, door jams, and wall voids provide for a nice hibernation spot along with any room that may have a warmer temperature including sunrooms, porches, attics, pool houses, and hot tub rooms. Even in the middle of winter, boxelder bugs may come out of hiding to bask in the warm sun and look for food before returning to hibernation.
You may start to notice these pests more in the fall as it starts to get colder outside. They begin to seek shelter and warmth. However, boxelder bug season is technically in the spring as this is when their eggs start to hatch.
The life cycle of boxelder bugs consists of three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. In early spring, after overwintering in sheltered areas like your home, adult boxelder bugs emerge to lay eggs on the bark, leaves, and seed pods of boxelder trees, maple trees, and ash trees. The eggs hatch in about one to two weeks, releasing tiny, bright red nymphs. These nymphs then feed on the sap of trees and gradually grow through several molts, changing color and size as they mature.
By late summer, the nymphs develop into adults with black and red markings, completing the cycle. As temperatures drop in fall, adult boxelder bugs seek out warm places, including homes, to hibernate over winter, ready to begin the process again in spring.
Are Boxelder Bugs Harmful?
Other than these bugs being a flying nuisance, they are a very non-destructive bug. Unlike other common pests, boxelder bugs don’t transmit diseases or have a poisonous bite. They are similar to stink bugs in that they release an unpleasant odor when smashed, so for this reason, we recommend against crushing them. With hundreds or sometimes thousands looking for a place to call home, their urine and feces can accumulate and stain the windows and trim where they spend most of their time in large groups.
Although these little black and red pests aren’t going to cause your family or pets any harm, homeowners likely don’t want to deal with cleaning up piles of dead boxelder bugs and the accumulation of their excrement.
Prevention is Key
As you are planning annual spring and fall cleaning, pick up a pack of Stay Away®. This scent-based pest repellent product works by emitting the fresh scent of botanical oils. With no setup,messy cleanup or harmful insecticides, this product is a dream for those looking for DIY pest control tips.
Stay Away® pouches get rid of household pests and prevent them from returning. Place the pouches by the entrances of windows and doors that the bugs are using to make their way inside. By doing this, you are essentially making an invisible wall that they don’t want to cross — and your windows will no longer be the place to relax and sunbathe. Boxelder bugs start to come out of hibernation around springtime — as soon as the temperature becomes warmer, so make sure your doors and windows are protected.
Shop Stay Away® online or in stores.
