Box Elder Bugs in Phoenix, AZ
Boisea trivittata
Box elder bugs swarm in large numbers on warm exterior walls. Learn how to identify and manage them.
Notes: From a Phoenix, AZ Exterminator
Appearance
Box elder bugs are black with distinctive red-orange markings along the edges of their wings, about half an inch long.
Harborage
They cluster in large numbers on sun-warmed exterior walls, especially near box elder, maple, or ash trees, and seek gaps to shelter as temperatures shift.
Are They Dangerous?
They don't bite or sting and aren't considered a health threat, but large swarms are a significant nuisance and can stain surfaces with their droppings when crushed.
Treatment
Sealing entry points and treating exterior walls before swarming season reduces indoor sightings significantly. Antidote Pest Solutions provides perimeter treatment timed to seasonal activity. Talk to one of Antidote Pest's Service Pro's today.
Prevention Tips
Remove or limit female box elder and maple trees near the home, which the bugs feed and breed on
Seal cracks around windows, siding, and roof eaves before fall, when they seek shelter
Install or repair window screens
Caulk utility penetrations and gaps around doors
Use a vacuum to remove bugs found indoors rather than crushing them (they can stain surfaces)
Behavioral Notes
Box elder bugs cluster by the hundreds on sun-warmed, south-facing walls in fall — a behavior called 'aggregation' that helps them conserve heat before winter.
They feed almost exclusively on box elder, maple, and ash seeds, piercing the seed pods with a straw-like mouthpart rather than chewing leaves.
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