Boxelder Bugs? Ew. Here's How to Get Rid of Them

Creepy-crawly bugs come in all shapes and sizes. Some cause damage, and others are simply annoying.

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Boxelder bugs are harmless bugs, but you don't want them taking up residence in your home. 

Boxelder bugs are red and black bugs that are about one-half inch long with an elongated oval-shaped body. They can also have orange markings on them. Look for three stripes behind the head to identify them. You can also check the wings — they overlap over the back and make an “X” shape. A nymph boxelder bug is only about one-sixteenth of an inch long and hatches as a bright red bug, gradually changing to a red and black bug. 

The name comes from their tendency to hang out around boxelder trees. They don't bite or destroy your property, but they can invade your home and become an annoying, unwanted nuisance. Boxelder bugs can also leave reddish stains on surfaces inside your home from their fecal matter. 

Why Are They Invading My Home?

These red and black bugs most often invade homes, sheds and other structures in the fall as the weather gets cooler. They're looking for a warm, cozy spot for the winter months. Your home might be more of a target if you have a lot of southern or western exposure for extra warmth. 

Boxelder bugs make their way inside through any gaps or cracks they can find. Windows are often a target. You might find them in walls, attics and other warm areas inside your home. They aren't very active in the winter, but they'll start moving around again in the spring when it warms up. At that time, you might notice them moving into your living area or to windows where it's warm. While they try to return outdoors in the spring, they can't always find a way out of your home.

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How Do You Get Rid of Boxelder Bugs?

Ideally, you can stop boxelder bugs from ever entering your home so you don't have to deal with them. The easiest way to do that is by blocking any entrance points they might find. However, there are control methods if you're too late to keep them outside. These steps help you learn how to get rid of boxelder bugs.

Step 1: Seal Entry Points

Your home can have lots of small openings that are just big enough for a variety of pests to enter. Look for cracks and gaps along your foundation and around windows and doors. Covering vents on your roof and the walls of your home with screens blocks another entrance point. You might also need to seal around anything that enters your home, such as cables, wires and pipes. 

Exterior doors can also provide an opening for boxelder bugs and other critters. Add a door sweep on your exterior doors to seal the crack there. Check your garage door to make sure it closes tightly. You can add a rubber seal along the bottom to close up the gap if there is one. 

Step 2: Use Dish Soap

Soapy water works as a defense against the boxelder bug. Spraying soapy water directly on the bugs kills them. If you don't want to kill the bugs, you can still spray soapy water outside your home in areas where boxelder bugs congregate. Cleaning with soapy water can repel the bugs from your home, decreasing the chances of them getting inside. 

Step 3: Apply Pesticides Outside

Another way to keep the bugs out of your home is by spraying pesticide outside in the late summer or early fall. If you want to avoid chemicals, you can spread diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of your home to discourage the bugs from swarming and entering. 

Step 4: Physically Remove Bugs Indoors

The red and black bugs often overwinter in wall cavities. You don't want to kill them in those spaces, as the dead bodies could attract other pests. Instead, let them overwinter and catch them when they become active again in the spring. Vacuuming them up is an easy way to get them out of your home quickly. You can also sweep them up and move them outdoors. When removing the bugs, avoid smashing them. This can leave a stain and release a foul odor.