Box Elder Bugs

Characteristics
Size: Box elder bugs are up to 1/2-inch long.

Color: Ranges from gray to black with red crisscrossing stripes on the wings. The nymphs have bright red abdomens.

Behavior
A number of insects have discovered that heated buildings are ideal in which to survive the cold of winter. Such pests include box elder bugs cluster flies and lady beetles. As the weather cools in late summer and early fall the late summer sun warms the southern and western walls of buildings. The warmth attracts these insects to buildings where they crawl inside cracks and stay there for the winter. This would be fine but during warm winter days some insects "wake up" and end up on the inside of the building.

Habitat
Box elder bugs feed on maple and box elder trees and usually infest buildings where these types of trees are nearby.

Tips for Control
The best way to control such pests is by prevention as described below. If it's too late and they are already inside it takes a professional to find and treat the right areas to minimize the numbers of pests seen inside. If your home has experienced a problem with overwintering pests take the following steps next summer to prevent a recurrence.

Seal up as many cracks and holes on the outside of the home as possible especially on the south and west walls where the sun heats the home during the late summer and fall.

Be sure that all foundation and attic vents have tight-fitting screens.

Check both the soffit vents and any gable vents or turbine vents on the roof.

Have your Terminex professional treat the outside west and south walls of the home near the eaves. This treatment should be completed in mid to late August.

"Terminex"...sounds serious!