True bugs
True bugs are a group of bugs that number in the tens of thousands. They are joined by the fact that they all have piercing-sucking mouthparts. These can be used for all sorts of things from bed bugs using them to drain blood from mammals to aphids using them to drain sap from plants. Like aphids, the box elder bug uses them to draw sap from plants.
Box elder bug life cycle
Box elder bugs go through a transformation from egg to tiny box elder bugs. They then go through a moulting phase where they grow in size and grow wings and become adult box elder bugs. This process of laying eggs and creating new box elder bugs happens twice a year. Once in the spring and then again in the fall. These box elder bugs in the fall are the ones that are most likely to bother humans and try to infest their homes because they do not do well in cold weather.
Box elder bug dangers
Box elder bugs will panic at this time of year and try to get into your home. They will do this by flying around and trying to get into any crack or crevice they can find. It’s not hard for them because they are so small. If they can’t get inside they will cling to the outside of the house for warmth. If they do get inside they can release a stink smell and make a very big mess when you crush them. It’s important to know that box elder bug internals are bright red and make terrible stains on upholstery. These stains are not easy to clean even with bleach and other chemicals.
Box elder bugs eat sap
Box elder bugs eat sap. This sap is only around for a short time during the summer in southern Canada and in the winter the trees hibernate and stop producing it at least in the leaves which dry out and fall to the ground. For this reason, the box elder bugs will starve to death. This can take a while, they can survive months without feeding and if they manage to overwinter which is their form of hibernating, then they will come right back in the spring to nourish themselves on sap again.
Box elder bugs treatment
If you are worried the bugs will get inside your home, or they already have then you need to take action. You can try natural treatments like spraying the outside of your house with vinegar and other chemicals that will make them avoid it but if that doesn’t work then you will need to call a professional exterminator. A licensed exterminator can do an exterior spray of your home around the base of the house and around doors and windows which are common entryways for the insects. If they are already inside the house they can also do an interior treatment around the baseboards of the house that will kill them. Remember to vacuum up the carcasses with the hose attachment as trying to sweep them or vacuum them the normal way may crush them and cause bas stains all over the house.