How Can I Control Boxelder Bugs?

Do you want to control boxelder bugs by eliminating host trees?

Do you want to control boxelder bugs by exclusion and sanitation?

Do you want to control boxelder bugs using chemical management tactics?

Since the box elder tree is the main source of food for the boxelder bug, removing the trees, especially the female or pod-bearing trees, is the most effective way of controlling the pest. Be careful not to plant or allow the establishment of new box elder trees in your yard. However, the elimination of trees on your property won’t always completely resolve the problem. Winged adults can fly for distances of several blocks, so boxelder bugs may also migrate in from a neighbor’s tree.

Repair torn screens and close up places where the bugs can enter the house. Use caulk, weatherstripping, fine-mesh screen, steel wool, or expandable foam as appropriate. Boxelder bugs that enter the home may be controlled by hand-collecting or vacuuming. Eliminate hiding places like piles of rocks, boards, leaves, and general debris close to houses. Boxelder bugs hide during the day or overwinter in these sites. Rake leaves and remove weeds and grass from a 6- to 10-feet wide strip around the foundation, particularly on the south and west sides of the house. Keep box elder tree seeds swept up.

Insecticide sprays are generally not recommended for boxelder bug management. They are often no more effective than vacuuming and hosing, and repeated applications may be required. Insecticidal soap applied in a forceful spray of water may reduce populations on tree trunks. Pyrethroid insecticides are available for treating foundation walls around the perimeter of buildings. If required, these applications are best done by a professional. Special care must be taken to avoid runoff of pesticides from walls and foundations into storm drains.

Boxelder bugs do not cause significant damage to landscape plants, and management needs only be directed at keeping them out of homes, where they may become a nuisance. If boxelder bugs frequently invade homes, seal up entry points such as cracks and screen windows and doors. Sanitation practices such as vacuuming can be used to reduce population numbers, but vigilance may be required during fall migration. Outdoors, eliminate hiding places and debris, and consider removing female box elder trees.