Vents in soffits and crawl spaces should also be screened. Windows, including those in the attic, should have screens or storm windows. Individual bugs can be removed by hand or with a vacuum cleaner.Īlthough household sprays containing pyrethroids will kill these insects on contact, it is far better to prevent them from getting in by sealing or weatherstripping all cracks and crevices through which they might gain admittance. It is very difficult to control boxelder bugs after they have gotten into the home. Also, these insects may emit a foul odor when crushed. Their fecal material may stain wallpaper, upholstery, curtains and other furnishings. Because of their fall invasion of our homes, this insect is more commonly considered a household pest. Despite this, they do little damage to their primary hosts. Damageīoxelder bugs feed primarily on box elder and maple seeds but also suck sap from the leaves and twigs. Around the middle of July, new adults lay eggs for a second generation by early autumn. In addition to box elder, this insect feeds on apple, ash, buckeye, maple, plum, cherry, peach and grape as well as other ornamentals. Females begin egg-laying in cracks and crevices near host plants. Adults emerge from these overwintering sites in March and early April and feed for about two weeks prior to mating. If they have access to the inside, they may also appear there in large numbers. On warmer winter days, they will often emerge and rest on the south or west sides of our houses, usually on white or very light surfaces. These insects seek and find almost any crack or crevice - in walls, door and window casings, rock piles, tree holes and the foundations of houses. In late summer and fall, large numbers of adult and large nymph boxelder bugs come together, usually on the bark of boxelder trees, before moving to an overwintering site.They fly or crawl to a suitable retreat for the winter. Nymphs are very bright red, with darker heads. The rear margin of the wings is reddish, and the abdomen beneath the wings is also red, as are the eyes. IdentificationĪdult boxelder bugs are about 1/2 inch long, slate gray in color, with three red stripes behind the head and red lines on the wings. These are boxelder bugs that have been temporarily “activated” by the warm temperatures and come inside through any cracks or fissures that they can find leading in from outside of your home. Noticed any peculiar “red and black” bugs that suddenly appeared in large numbers inside your home? Or perhaps on south or west-facing outside walls? Their appearance almost always coincides with unusually warm winter days. Just ask Boulder.Source(s): Jim Howell, Ph.D., Entomologist, The University of Georgia More: Emerald ash borer: Fort Collins ash trees are in trouble. More: 834 million dead trees put Colorado in danger of disaster When are they going away?īy spring, boxelder bugs head back outside to enjoy warmer weather. Visit the Colorado State University extension website for tips on handling a boxelder bug infestation. Your best bet is sealing your home's cracks and crevices, installing door sweeps and repairing holes in door and window screens. But "their piercing-sucking mouthparts can occasionally puncture skin, causing a slight irritation and producing a red spot similar to a mosquito bite," according to. A 2015 study found that the city's roughly 30,000 maple trees account for about 7 percent of all trees. You also might be seeing a lot of boxelder bugs because you have a lot of boxelder trees in your neighborhood. Fort Collins is home to thousands of boxelder trees, which are a type of maple tree. The bugs crawl inside building cracks and crevices, which is why you'll often spot them near windows, according to the University of Minnesota extension office.īoxelder bugs are attracted to warmth, so you'll see more of them in buildings with large southern or western exposure and buildings that stand taller than their neighbors, according to the extension office. Around fall they head indoors to survive the winter. Boxelder bugs hang out in trees during the summer. They can fly but quite enjoy crawling around walls and surfaces. Although they're native to the western United States, they can be found across the country and in Canada. They're called boxelder bugs because they're often found around boxelder trees. What are they?īoxelder bugs are half-inch long, winged insects with black bodies and red or orange markings. Here's everything you ever wanted to know about your antennaed roommates. The bad news - for those not fond of creepy crawlers - is they're not moving out of your living spaces anytime soon. The good news is boxelder bugs are harmless. Meet the boxelder bug, the black and red critter that has probably taken a liking to your home, your office, your car - we could go on. The bug that seems to be swarming Fort Collins has a name. Watch Video: 4 easy tricks to prep your car for Colorado snow
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