Pest Control PRO LLC
Boxelder bugs are not dangerous, but when fall temperatures drop they seek warm shelter and pour into homes through gaps around windows, doors, vents and foundations. The red-and-black bugs you see on the south and west walls of your house in September are the ones that will try to come inside as it cools.
Signs of boxelder bugs
- Red-and-black bugs clustered on south and west exterior walls in September and October
- Bugs around window frames, door sweeps and soffit vents
- Clusters in attics, wall voids and behind stored items
- Orange-red staining on curtains, light-colored walls and window sills
- Large numbers appearing suddenly after the first cool nights
- Boxelder or maple trees on or near the property
How we treat boxelder bugs
Most fall boxelder problems are an exclusion problem, not a spraying problem. We find the gaps they use - window and door frames, utility penetrations, soffit vents and foundation cracks - and seal them.
Existing clusters are vacuumed rather than crushed, because crushing is what causes the staining on curtains and light-colored surfaces.
Treating the exterior wall where they congregate can reduce numbers, but sealing is what stops next year's invasion. We mark the problem areas so the same spots are checked on the next visit.
Follow-up visits confirm the seals are holding after the first cold snap, when the population moves in.
Prevention
Seal window and door frames and vents before the first cool nights, keep boxelder and maple branches off the roof line, remove stored items and debris along the foundation where they gather, and vacuum clusters instead of crushing them. If the bugs are on the outside wall now, the indoor problem is weeks away.
Plans & pricing
Inspection is free for Central Ohio properties we service. Boxelder Bugs service is priced by scope - one-time as-needed treatment, or a quarterly plan under one of the three residential tiers that includes re-treatment between visits if the problem returns. See residential plans and commercial programs, or call 614-592-4616 for a quote before any work is scheduled.
FAQs about boxelder bugs
Are boxelder bugs dangerous?
No. They do not bite, damage structure or spread disease. The problem is numbers, odor and staining when they are crushed.
How do you get rid of boxelder bugs?
Exclusion - sealing the gaps around windows, doors, vents and foundations - plus removal of existing clusters.
Why do they come inside every year?
Because the same gaps stay open. Sealing is what stops the return; spraying the wall only reduces numbers for that season.
Do they damage the house or plants?
No structural damage. They feed on boxelder and maple trees, which is why properties with those trees see higher pressure.
What is the fastest solution once they are inside?
Vacuuming the clusters. Then seal the entry points so the next group cannot get in.
Service Areas
Dublin · Columbus · Worthington · Powell · Hilliard · Westerville · Clintonville · Downtown · Linden · Plain City · Delaware · Galena · Lewis Center · Sunbury · Ostrander · Genoa · Upper Arlington · Whitehall · Gahanna · New Albany · Grove City · Groveport · Reynoldsburg · Canal Winchester · Obetz · Grandview Heights · Bexley · University District · Hilltop · Galloway · Pickerington · Marysville
Related reading
Boxelder bugs coming inside this fall in Central Ohio
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