Moth balls, soapy water, bug bombs…I’m sure you’ve heard all sorts of wives’ tales on how to get rid of boxelder bugs. So, what’s the truth??

Let’s talk science for a second. (My favorite thing. Tee-hee!)

This is a Boxelder Bug

Photo courtesy Ricky Kluge at Illinois Natural History Survey

These are also Boxelder Bugs

Boxelder bug nymphs (Younger stages)

Boxelder Bug Facts

  • likes to bask in the sun
  • feeds on seed-bearing female boxelder trees, but also like maple and ash trees
  • lays eggs on the trunks of these trees
  • seeks shelter in cracks and crevices on buildings to survive winter seasons
  • emerges in spring once temperatures are warmer, but will occasionally emerge earlier on sunny days
  • choose the south and west sides of buildings to swarm to because they’re the sunniest and warmest
  • population is most abundant during hot, dry summers

The Boxelder Tree

 

And these are the seed pods.

 

If you have one of these trees in your yard and it happens to be a female, you’re most likely going to attract more boxelder bugs than the neighbor down the road with no trees in his yard. This does not whatsoever mean that you should cut that tree down. It just explains why these boxelder bugs are swarming to your property. Let’s face it. Even if you don’t have a boxelder tree in your yard, there could be other factors making your house look more awesome to a boxelder bug. And besides, there are ways to kill boxelder bugs before they even become a nuisance.

How to Get Rid of Boxelder Bugs:
Myths vs. Reality.

  1. Will soapy water kill boxelder bugs? Sorry folks. This will make them fall off of your house and may drown a few, but it’s not going to solve the problem. They’re still going to keep flying onto your house if the sun’s out.
  2. Will bug bombs get rid of boxelder bugs in the house? Boxelder bugs can leave marks on your curtains and walls, they smell bad and they’re SO CREEPY and ANNOYING! Bombs are a mess though. And the truth is, bombs will push them further into wall voids where they’re just going to spend time reproducing. FAIL.
  3. If I put moth balls in my attic will they kill boxelder bugs? Besides smelling awful, these will do absolutely NOTHING to control boxelder bugs.  Wah Wahhhhh…

 

So how do you get rid of boxelder bugs?

Prevention, TAP insulation and exclusion. What?? Think about it. If you know boxelder bugs are terrible in the spring and fall, take action before they even start flocking to the inside of your house during those seasons. I know this is easier said than done a lot of times. You typically don’t think about bugs until you see them. Totally understandable. But that only means you have an opportunity to be smarter about this next year.

Prevention

A bug infestation of any sort is harder to control once it’s in full swing. A lot of our customers know when to expect their house to become inundated with these annoying boxelder bugs. We have designed a program around that to treat the exteriors of their houses before the bugs get bad. The products we use last up to three months and will continue to repel all kinds of bugs that try to land on the house. It works so well for boxelder bugs and asian beetles, spiders, flies, and pretty much any other creepy crawler that tries to invade your home. Without doing major repairs on your house, this is the next best thing. It’s cost effective, will keep the bugs out for the most part and will give you peace of mind.

 

TAP Insulation

Thermal Acoustical Pest Control insulation is nothing short of awesome. It’s the latest addition to our Special Services Division and has so many benefits. For areas in your house that you don’t go into very often, like your attic, TAP will do the work for you.

What is TAP?

  • green and environmentally friendly
  • Energy Star-labeled product (will lower your energy costs)
  • EPA-certified for pest management
  • 32% more energy efficient than traditional insulation
  • made from recycled paper and natural borates
  • opportunity for tax credit
  • blown-in right on top of your existing insulation
  • increases property value
  • energy and sound-deadening AND
  • a service now offered by Rose Pest Solutions!

 

Exclusion

This is the ultimate permanent fix. The reason why pests get into your house is because they’re finding gaps, cracks, and crevices to squeeze through. The incentive for them finding these can be to get away from predators, find shelter away from the outdoor elements (especially in winter), and access food sources. Boxelder bugs will squeeze into these crevices as the weather gets colder so that they can survive the harsh cold temperatures of winter out of the elements. Rodents seek shelter and food sources. Removing their access points solves the problem at the root. Now, isn’t that GREEN?!

When our technician comes out to your home for an exclusion quote (free estimates, by the way), he or she will inspect your house and property for entry points. Then they’ll tell you how the repairs will be made.

Here are a few things we use for exclusion services:

  • copper wire mesh
  • expandable foam
  • caulk
  • screens
  • vent covers
  • siding corner caps
  • chimney caps
  • deterrents

 

Solving the problem at its root is how we roll. You may be surprised at how affordable a permanent solution may be! We give free pest control estimates. You don’t know until you ask!

{{cta(‘3c80e06e-11c5-4a4d-b80b-e650ae539cb9’)}} {{cta(‘8ec5f30e-fffb-4679-aa3e-27fe8b2a04b3’)}} {{cta(‘eb6ca16b-015b-4e2d-bdc7-340598b9de64’)}}

 

You've got a pest problem. We've got your pest solution.

Whether you've got wasps, rodents, spiders (or you name it), we can assist with your pest situation. Drop us a line to tell us what's going on and we'll schedule your pest control service!

Get Rid of My Pest!

Safe For Your Family and Business

We're licensed, trained, and certified by the Departments of Public Health and Agriculture, using safe, EPA-regulated materials, always.

Attacking Infestations at the Root

We don't come in spraying. We evaluate the root of your problem, and recommend and enact pre-emptive measures before any chemicals are used. 

Assessments Before Any Contracts

 Our Customer Care Center walks you through every service, every charge, and every solution before you agree to anything. Our commitment is to you.