Basic Information about Box Elder Bugs

If you are having trouble with box elder bugs, you are not alone. These bugs cause a lot of havoc today, and a lot of Oregon residents having issues with them.

About box elder bugs
Box elder bugs are as small as 1/16th of an inch when they are young, although they get to roughly ½ inches as they get older. Generally they are most often seen in the fall or early spring, and usually don’t come out during the summer. They are an especially big problem in the fall, when they are looking for places to stay for the long Oregon winters.

These bugs generally look for a good shelter in a protected area during the winter. This is why they search for cracks and crevices in the walls and doors in homes. The good news is that they don’t bite, and will not cause damage to the house either. However, they can stain the walls and curtains, and cleaning up after them can be a hassle.

How to keep them out
That’s the question a lot of people are wondering. Obviously you want to prevent any more bugs from joining the ones already inside. Once you find them inside, you have to eliminate them somehow. First, make sure to fix any torn screens. Also, repair cracks by the windows and doors, and even in the attic and basement vents. To do this, use caulk or expandable foam.

How to get rid of them
Once that is accomplished, now you need to turn your attention to the bugs already inside. One of the best strategies for this is to simply vacuum the area where the bugs are living. This will get rid of the majority of them. Also, spraying them with water and laundry detergent is quite effective. Be sure to wash them from the outside walls and tree trunks using a pressure hose, as this can prevent a future infestation.

If you have a female box elder tree close to the house, you are going to have to get rid of it. Any other method will just produce short term results. If this doesn’t completely get rid of them, then get rid of the fallen seeds by the tree’s location using a shop vacuum.

As you can probably tell, all these strategies take a lot of work. Therefore, consider hiring an exterminator.  Make sure they have plenty of knowledge in eliminating this specific type of pest, and they can get rid of the problem properly.