(NEXSTAR) — Warm weather is setting in throughout the country, which means many of the creepy crawlers winter spared us from are resurfacing. You may have already had a run-in with a few, including one nuisance bug related to invasive stink bugs and soon-to-appear cicadas.
The pest in question? Boisea trivittatus, better known as the boxelder bug.
Here are 4 things you should know about boxelder bugs.
What are boxelder bugs?
Unlike its invasive relative, boxelder bugs are native to North America, and are usually found with its preferred host (more on that in a moment). There is also a western boxelder bug, which can be found in the West, stretching from Washington and Idaho south through California, Utah, and Nevada, and into Texas.
They can be about 1/2 inch in length, sporting a red line on each side and a red arrow-like marking on its back.
As its name implies, the boxelder bug, pictured below, is attracted to boxelder trees. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the trees are “the most common host plant” for both varieties of the boxelder bug.
According to Colorado State University Extension, boxelder bugs are often confused with the small milkweed bug and the goldenrain tree bug.
Where can I find boxelder bugs?
This will largely depend on what time of year it is. If any boxelder bugs over-wintered in your home, you may see them coming out of hibernation now.
The bugs often appear between spring and fall, though are most abundant after a very warm May and dry July, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s horticulture division explains.
However, they may go largely unnoticed during these months, the University of Minnesota Extension notes. Through spring and into summer, the adults will be feeding on plants and seeds.
Come July, boxelder bugs will begin laying eggs on the trunks, branches, and leaves of female, seed-bearing boxelder trees. You may also see them on maple or ash trees, or fruit trees, like apples and cherries.
As summer ends and fall begins, adult boxelder bugs will begin looking for places to overwinter, like your house.
Can I keep them out of my house?
There are a few things you can do to help diminish the chances of the boxelder bug infiltrating your home.
Experts recommend using caulk to seal open spaces around your windows and doors, and repairing any damaged screens in which the bugs could crawl through.
If you’re planting trees in your yard this year, you may want to avoid boxelder trees to keep down the population of boxelder bugs. Similarly, you can remove boxelder trees on your property, experts say.
A registered insecticide can be sprayed on trees or your home, though the University of Maryland Extension reports insecticide is “not necessary or recommended to control” boxelder bugs since they are only “minor nuisance pests.” UW Madison says insecticidal soap or hot soapy water can also be used on your home, but multiple applications may be necessary if you use the latter.
Are boxelder bugs bad?
Unlike some other pests you may encounter, boxelder bugs don’t bite or sting, and you won’t find them feasting on your food. With the exception of fruit trees, they don’t usually cause much damage either.
If you see one in your home, you may want to avoid squashing it. Like its cousin, the invasive stink bug, boxelder bugs can release an unpleasant odor and stain fabrics. Instead, experts recommend using a vacuum to remove the bug or spraying them with “a 3-4% mix of water and soap (by volume).”
As annoying as boxelder bugs may be, they’re relatively harmless. The same can’t be said for the brown marmorated stink bug, the spotted lanternfly, and the spongy moth — all invasive species spreading in the U.S.
