How Do Boxelder Bugs Get Into the House: UT Experts Share Insights

The Boxelder Bug Scourge, Explained

You've surely seen them: black-and-orange bugs a little smaller than your fingernail, with a pattern that sort of looks like an X, or a cape, if you're feeling charitable. These are boxelder bugs or, depending on where you are located, they could be the close boxelder relative, the elm seed bug.

Are these little pests dangerous? No, not necessarily. Are they annoying? Most certainly. When they enter the home, they do so in large numbers, typically amassing in crawl spaces or near the home's foundation and exploiting any potential weakness in your home's defenses to make themselves comfortable. They also leave behind nasty droppings, and they stink when squashed - not the ideal house guest!

Why Do Bugs Enter The Home?

As autumn begins and the weather starts to cool, many species of pests begin their migration into indoor spaces for the winter, seeking warmth and shelter. Unfortunately, as Pickett Pest Control explains, homes are the most accessible form of shelter for these bugs, which can mean full-scale invasion for homes that are not properly sealed.

In the case of boxelder and elm seed bugs, their natural instinct is to clump together in large numbers to conserve warmth in the colder months. In nature, this wouldn't be a problem; boxelder colonies favor tree hollows, particularly those found in their namesake boxelder trees. In residential areas, however, your home is a much-preferred alternative.

How To Stop Seasonal Infestation

As previously mentioned, these pests enter the home through a number of different vectors, most of which you probably give little to no thought on a day-to-day basis.

Let's explore the most common points of entry, and what you can do to seal them off.

1. Roof Eaves - Bugs enter the attic through gaps around your roof eaves, reproducing in these spaces where they may have access to the rest of the home.
2. Siding - Gaps in your home's siding are a perfect place for a boxelder colony to snuggle up - though, unfortunately, this can lead to proliferation and infestation around your home's perimeter.
3. Foundation Gaps    •possibly the most common point of entry, pests locate drafty gaps in your home's foundation and use them as an entry point into your crawl space or basement.
4. Window Screens - Damaged window screens or poorly-fitted windows, particularly in older homes, lead to those dead bugs piled up on the windowsill.

In most cases, chemical treatments do the trick to keep bugs from crossing the threshold. However, in some cases, deeper repairs, such as the application of sealant and caulking, may be necessary to treat the issue for good.

Experts emphasize the importance of preventative actions, as the same vectors that boxelder and elm seed bugs use to enter the home can also be used by more harmful pests like roaches and termites. Contacting a qualified local exterminator to inspect your home and deal with your infestation problems is the only true way to keep all pests, no matter how harmful, out of your life for good.