Boxelder bugs have red marking with a dark brown or black abdomen. They have typically 0.5 inches in length and enticed to the boxelder tree. The boxelder bugs flock in places where ash and maple trees grow. You can deal with these creepy-crawlies easily as it is relatively simple to remove them around your home. In this post, we will discuss how to get rid of boxelder bugs naturally. Let’s get into it!

Where Do Boxelder Bugs Come From?

Boxelder bugs come from a Western part of USA. Also, it can be found in the Eastern part of USA and Canada including Western eastern Nevada. They come out in spring season from hibernation and spend the summer season feeding on the boxelder trees until winter comes in.

Do Boxelder Bugs Fly?

Boxelder bugs may also provender on ash or maple trees. Adult boxelder bugs can fly as far as 2 miles when they are searching for new means of food and breeding lands. The adult boxelder bugs can also survive in cool temperature.

What Do Boxelder Bugs Do?

You can say them nuisance pests but they don’t sting or bite. They are not known to transmit any type of disease. Also, they are not harmful to human beings because they don’t bite. The defensive biting is also very rare. They don’t cause any damage to your homes, garden, and plants. Nevertheless, their ordure can blemish light shaded surfaces.

Do Boxelder Bugs Bite?

Adult boxelder bugs do not have bitterness. They can’t sting but they also bite to defend themselves when you hard-pressed against their skin. But their bites have not lasting effects. According to behavioral studies, boxelder bugs use their slurping and Sharpe mouth to eat leaves, stem, and fruits. They don’t use their mouthparts to feed on people.

What Does a Boxelder Bug Looks Like?

The boxelder bugs (adult) have firmed and extended oval body shape which is 1.2 inches in length. These bugs have 6 long legs with 2 tentacles that cover the half-length of their body. The baby boxelder bugs called Nymphs that look like adult boxelder bugs but they haven’t wings. Nymphs are vibrant red in color.

How to Get Rid of Boxelder Bugs Permanently?

The infestation of boxelder bug is a great trouble for many when winter months move in. Give it a try to these followings natural remedies that will help you to get rid of these bugs in no time. They commonly enter homes during the fall season to strive for shelter for the winter season. Let’s have a look at how to get rid of Boxelder Bugs.

Diatomaceous Earth Powder:

The diatomaceous earth is always a good home remedy when it comes to getting rid of these common insects. Take diatomaceous earth (food grade) and spread it into the common zones where these bugs often flock. For example doorways, cervices, window cracks, etc. This powder is just like sandpaper to most pests because it will predicament against the exoskeleton of insects that subsequently cause dehydration that leads to perishing.

Spray with Soapy Water

Soapy water spray works best for the nymph (small boxelder bug) infestation. Fire away these bugs with this soapy water. To make this solution, take a few drops of dish soap and mix it with some water. Now take a medium-sized spray bottle and pour this solution into this bottle. This soapy water will stifle and kill the boxelder bug by blocking the spiracle where they inhale oxygen.

Seal up the House

Observe the boxelder bugs to have the idea what are their entry points. The most possible entry points could be doorways, wall cracks, window cracks, or wall holes.  Seal the wall holes, window cracks, and outer walls cervices. Alternatively, use weather-stripping for windows and doors.

Borax:

Borax is a great ingredient when it comes to household cleaning. This compound is extracted from boron that can break the shielding layer of the boxelder bug that subsequently damage the cell membrane of the boxelder bug. Sprinkle it inside and outside the house and around the trees of boxelder.

Cedar oil spray:

Cedar oil is a best and effective remedy to kill the insecticides. You can use it inside and outside the house as it has a pleasant smell. When you spray the cedar oil on these bugs, it causes suffocation that leads to dehydration. The oil combines with the body fats of boxelder bugs and kills them eventually.  To prepare this cedar oil spray, take 1 glass of vodka and 2 tsp. of cedar oil, ½ liter of water and pour this mixture in a large spray bottle. Shake it well and spray this solution profusely around your house.

Neem oil bug spray:

Neem oil is also an effective essential oil that helps you to get rid of boxelder bugs. But the mechanism of neem oil is quite diverse to kill the pests. Basically, neem oil creates the hormonal imbalance in boxelder bug while you spray this oil on them. That disruption and imbalance halt them from breeding and eating- meaning the next generation of boxelder bugs will not produce. To make this neem oil bug spray, mix neem oil with a small glass of alcohol and pour this solution in a spray bottle.

Essential oil boxelder bug spray

You can also use other essential oils to kill the boxelder bugs from your home with neem and cider oil. You can also use some other essential oils that have insecticidal characteristics including clove oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil and many more. For usage, take some alcohol (1 small glass), ten drops of any oil which we mentioned above and 0.5-liter water, mix all these ingredients. Spray this solution around doorways, windows, and other entry points.

Lemon juice and vinegar bug spray

This is a repellant spray that is also effective as compared to insecticides. Use this lemon juice and vinegar bug spray for window sills, walls, doorways where the boxelder bugs flock. You can make this spray more effective by adding some drops of dish soap or any essential oils. To make this spray, take 1-ounce vinegar and 1-ounce lemon juice. Use white vinegar because it is stronger and cheaper. Mix this solution in a spray bottle and spray it on the places where boxelder bugs are likely to be visible such as a window, wall cracks, doorways, cervices and other areas around your house.

Conclusion:

These home remedies on how to get rid of boxelder bugs are the best and most effective. Choose the one which suit you best and get rid of these pests in this fall season. Which home remedy you are using to kill the insecticides. Add your thoughts below!