Boxelder Bug Identification & Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions About Boxelder Bugs
What are boxelder bugs?
The boxelder bug is a common outdoor pest that can invade spaces in large numbers. They are black insects that have a reddish-orange color outlining their wings and abdomen. Nymphs or “baby” boxelder bugs are bright red in color. Their striking colors make it easy to identify these insects.
Boxelder bugs are sap suckers. They use their proboscis (elongated sucking mouthparts) to feed on the seeds of trees in addition to the juices of plants and some fruits. Boxelder bugs don’t typically feed on leaves or the plants themselves. Despite their feeding habits and ability to invade trees in large numbers, they typically don't cause long-term damage. Reach out to us today for pest control services in Salt Lake City.
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Why do I have a boxelder bug problem?
Boxelder bugs live outside throughout most of the year, breeding and feeding on the leaves, flowers, and seeds of boxelder trees and other seed-bearing trees. In the fall, when the weather cools, these insects migrate to homes and other structures, attracted by the warm, sunny exterior siding. As the boxelder bugs move up the walls of our homes, they find a way inside through cracks in walls, openings around windows and doors, and spaces along the roofline.
Where will I find boxelder bugs?
The preferred host tree of the boxelder bug is its namesake, the boxelder tree. Where there are boxelder trees is where these pests will gather and live in large numbers.
Outside, boxelder bugs are regularly spotted by people as they crawl over their host trees' bark and branches. In addition to boxelder trees, they regularly infest maple, ash, cherry, plum, and other cherry trees.
Inside our homes, boxelder bugs move into dry, warm, dark spaces. Places we regularly find these insects gathered include attics, vents, crawl spaces, and wall voids. When the weather warms up in the spring, they move back outside to feed, breed, and continue their lifecycle.
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