Box elder bugs are a small, noninvasive pest known to inhabit any areas where box elder maple trees are found. These little bugs are particularly adept at squirming their way inside homes and other structures to hide out from the cold. They’re a common household pest throughout the Winter in many parts of North America. Obviously, these unsightly critters can be quite the nuisance, even though they pose no direct harm to human beings. Additionally, they’re known to cause minor damage to trees, gardens, and other greenery when they gather in large numbers.

Takeaways New Hide ▲

Box elder bugs

are harmless to pets

but can be a nuisance

Seal entry points to

prevent box elder bugs

from infesting your home

Vacuum bugs promptly to

avoid stains and foul

odors on furniture

Large box elder bug

populations can damage

trees and garden plants

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And when squashed, box elder bugs tend to emit a foul odor, similar to stink bugs. So, just what is the preferred method for ridding your home of these pests? If you’re facing down a particularly frustrating infestation of these bugs, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a handful of simple and easy tips to get rid of these unwanted visitors once and for all.

Where Are Box Elder Bugs Most Commonly Found?

These pests thrive in outdoor environments near box elder trees and congregate in any warm space that can accommodate their ultra-thin frames. They can become a major nuisance once temperatures begin to drop for the winter, when they start to seek shelter in your home, toolshed, or any other insulated structure.

If you find yourself inundated with box elder bugs, be sure to carefully inspect doorways, windows, and vents for any slight cracks or margins. Electrical cover plates are also frequent entry points for these bugs.

How Do You Get Rid of Box elder Bugs?

In order to cut off the seemingly endless assault of insect invaders, you’ll need to identify the box elder bugs and determine where exactly they’re entering your home. These insects are characterized by their half-inch long bodies and red and black coloration. They are sometimes incorrectly referred to as beetles due to their size and shape.

Inspecting the locations mentioned above, and sealing off these cracks or gaps with caulk is your first step in fighting the infestation. This will prevent additional bugs from congregating in your home. From there, all that’s left to do is get rid of the bugs that have already made their way inside.

Vacuum And Clean Surfaces

One of the most effective ways to fight off a budding infestation is to vacuum the bugs up, and spray down surfaces with a basic DIY soap and water mixture. Again, you’ll want to avoid crushing these bugs whenever possible, as they tend to emit an awful-smelling chemical when squashed. If you don’t want to vacuum them up, try to catch and release the bugs outdoors, or kill them using insecticidal soap.

Luckily, box elders aren’t known to carry diseases or leave behind unsanitary messes, so you won’t have to go overboard with the cleaning solution. A simple soap and water mixture repels usually these bugs just fine.

Dust With Heavier Pesticides And Diatomaceous Earth

If sealing off the crevices in your home and deep cleaning with soap and water doesn’t do the trick, you can resort to killing box elder bugs with diatomaceous earth, borax, or other residual pesticides.

Diatomaceous earth is a particularly handy substance that is safe to humans but deadly to bugs and pests of any kind. It doubles as an effective repellent to roaches, carpenter ants, and termites. This powdery material is made from the fossilized remnants of a micro algae called diatoms, and eats through the exoskeleton of bugs like a powerful acid.

Other pesticides such as borax and chlorpyrifos should do the trick, though box elder bugs seem to have developed a mild immunity to certain varieties. Depending on your specific area, you may want to consult a local exterminator about which pesticides work best so you don’t waste money on something that won’t do the trick.

If you do go this route with your pest removal technique, be sure to carefully follow the instructions laid out by the manufacturer, and utilize skin and eye protection while spreading the pesticides along the perimeter of your home.

When to Contact A Professional

If you’re still finding box elder bugs in your house after trying all these methods, it may be worth it to hire a professional exterminator to treat your home with high-strength bug killer. Luckily, this shouldn’t be necessary in most cases, as box elder bugs tend to be generally harmless.

The absolute worst case scenario would see you toughing it out through the winter and eventually sending the bugs on their merry way once the Spring arrives. Still, homeowners who don’t have luck with the aforementioned fixes should reach out to professionals, if only to provide some peace of mind.