BOX ELDER BUG EXTERMINATOR
NEWTOWN PA
Box elder bugs are considered a nuisance pest because they infest homes, offices and other buildings. When they come indoors, they typically do so in large numbers, creating huge inconveniences for the people who rightfully occupy the building.
It is not common to find box elder bugs inside in the summer, but as they weather begins to turn colder, these pests may move in en masse. Box elder bugs like to have a warm, safe place to spend the winter, and it can be extraordinarily difficult to evict them.
Because ending box elder bug infestations is complicated, it is wise for property owners to keep these pests outside. That typically involves sealing up any openings in the building so that the bugs simply cannot get indoors. It also may be sensible to use some insecticide to kill any ambitious insects that still try to make their way inside.
If box elder bugs are already inside the building, then the smartest thing to do is to contact a licensed pest management company. Thanks to their knowledge and experience, these professionals are able to identify all possible entry points in the building so that they can be eliminated.
Exterminators similarly are adept at killing box elder bugs and ensuring that they are physically removed from the building. With the building pest-proof and the insects gone, the property owner has little reason to be concerned about future infestations.
WHAT DO BOX ELDER BUGS LOOK LIKE?
Overall, the box elder bug is black, but it does have some red or orange markings placed on the dorsum. Most individuals are about one-half inch long, and like other insects, they have a pair of antennae and six legs. The elongated oval shape of their bodies, which appear somewhat flattened, feature a head that is narrower than the pronotum. Adult box elder bugs have wings but the nymphs do not.
WHAT DO BOX ELDER BUGS EAT?
Box elder bugs generally emerge in the spring when they begin feeding on seeds and plants that they find on the ground. Mating commences a few weeks later. This causes the box elder bugs to move to female box elder trees that are seed-bearing. The box elder bugs lay their eggs on the leaves, branches and trunks of these trees. While box elder trees are used to bring about a new generation of insects, they also serve as a food source. The bugs will eat the new leaves and seeds on box elder trees.
Frequently, box elder bugs will eat ash or maple trees, and if apple and plum trees are available, they will eat fruit from these trees. When the population of box elder bugs is particularly dense, it may be possible to see the insects continuing to feed on the ground throughout the summer season.
WHERE DO BOX ELDER BUGS LIVE?
In the spring, box elder bugs are most likely to be found on the ground where they can easily forage for food. They migrate to trees as the weather gets warmer, using box elder and other trees as nurseries and food sources.
The weather begins to cool in the autumn, and this is the time when it is common to see box elder bugs gathering in large groups on trees, rocks or buildings that get a great deal of direct sunlight. Once a large group is amassed, the insects will migrate into conveniently close buildings to spend the winter. Using small crevices and cracks in buildings, the insects will insulate themselves to help them survive the harsh winter temperatures.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY BOX ELDER BUGS
Fortunately, box elder bugs generally do not cause a great deal of damage to structures. Property owners may notice unusual stains on walls both interior and exterior, but these usually can be cleaned up with ease.
The main threat posed by the box elder bug is to the trees in which it spends the summer. Apple and plum trees do not suffer much as the insects concentrate on consuming the fruit from these trees. Maple and ash tend to not show a great deal of damage, but the story is different with box elder trees, which may be severely damaged.
ARE BOX ELDER BUGS AGGRESSIVE?
Box elder bugs are equipped to bite, but they rarely use these defensive weapons on people. If someone accidentally harassed a box elder bug, they might be bitten, but it would not be serious.
Still, the story can be different for landscaping trees. When large populations of these pests are present, they can exact lasting damage from which it is difficult or impossible for trees to recover.
DO BOX ELDER BUGS CARRY DISEASE?
Even if they come indoors in great numbers, box elder bugs will not make anyone sick. Nonetheless, they do produce a prodigious stink when they are crushed.
HOW TO DETECT BOX ELDER BUGS
Signs of a box elder bug presence include:
• Plentiful visual sightings of the insects
• Buzzing sounds heard indoors
• A peculiar odor noticed in some rooms
• Dropping stains marring walls and floors
HOW TO PREVENT BOX ELDER BUGS
To help prevent box elder bug issues take the following steps:
• Ensure that damaged door and window screens are repaired or replaced
• Check screens on roof and soffit vents to ensure that they are in good repair
• Review the condition of screens over kitchen and bathroom fans
• Seal up openings through which phone lines, cables and other utility wires enter the building
• Eliminate excessive openings around dryer vents, outdoor faucets and pipes
• Use expandable spray foam, caulk or copper mesh on other openings in the building's exterior
• Install thresholds or door sweeps on all exterior doors
• Place a high-quality rubber seal along the bottom of all garage doors
HOW TO TREAT FOR BOX ELDER BUGS
When box elder bugs come indoors, it can be disconcerting for the building's human occupants. Getting rid of these pests is not easy, especially since they tend to infest in large numbers.
A licensed, experienced pest management professionals is the property owner's best resource for putting an end to box elder bug infestations. Technicians are trained to locate all of the vulnerabilities in a structure that are allowing pests to come indoors. All of these openings are then eliminated so that box elder bugs and other pests lose access to the building.
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