Box Elder Bug
What are boxelder bugs
These insects also share the fact that they regularly invade our homes during the colder months of the year to overwinter. In Utah, we have three different species of insects that spend most of their time outside living and feeding on specific trees using their piercing, sucking mouthparts. These are collectively known as boxelder bugs, but individually they are elm seed bugs, western conifer seed bugs, and proper boxelder bugs.
Elm Seed Bugs
Adult elm seed bugs have an oval shape, are winged, and have dark, rusty-red, and black coloration. They have an identifying black upside-down triangle between two rusty-red triangles on the back.
Western Conifer Seed Bugs
Western conifer seed bugs are brown and black, have a small, pointed head, square “shoulders,” and wings the length of their body.
Boxelder Bugs
Adult boxelder bugs are ½ inch in length and are black in color with red markings on their wings and behind their head. Boxelder bugs have an elongated, oval body with black coloration and a vibrant orange color outlining their wings.
Frequently asked questions
Boxelder bugs do not sting and although they may bite, it is not usually painful. All three species are primarily nuisance pests. They don’t cause any real harm when outside. Having these insects covering trees in your yard may be unsightly, but it is generally not problematic. These insects do become a problem for homeowners when they decide to move into your home to overwinter.
They are not a dangerous pest but could cause problems for homes when they congregate in large numbers as they are likely to do.
Boxelder bugs often enter homes in the Ogden area during the fall months when the weather starts to cool off. They are looking for a warm place to take shelter in for the winter, and will often be found around sources of heat such as lights and air conditioning units.
Boxelder bugs primarily live on seed-bearing trees. Their name indicates their food preferences as boxelder bugs prefer boxelder trees.
These insects spend most of their time outside visible on trees, but when overwintering in our homes, they move to hidden areas. Boxelder bugs regularly overwinter in attics, wall voids, and crawl spaces.
When boxelder bugs get into your home, there’s no better time to call Peak Pest Control for help. Our comprehensive residential pest management programs are administered by expert technicians using the best tools and practices in the industry to ensure a complete treatment for your home.
In addition to our professional pest services for Cache County, use the following tips to keep boxelder bugs, elm seed bugs, and Western conifer seed bugs out of your home.
– Use steel wool to fill in spaces around wires and other utilities entering your home.
– Caulk cracks in the foundations.
– Place weather-stripping around windows and doors.
– Make sure screens are intact and replace any that are damaged.
– Install door sweeps.
– Repair roof damage.
Unfortunately, when they swarm boxelder bugs can be a difficult pest to stop even with the best prevention steps in place. When prevention fails, it’s important to be able to find a professional pest control service to get rid of boxelder bugs and handle your boxelder bug problem quickly, effectively, and safely.