Boxelder bug infestation? You need to call Aspen.

Boxelder bug infestations can be a real nuisance, and if the bugs make their way into your home, they can be really difficult to deal with. They’re annoying, difficult to treat on your own, and are easier dealt with when you have professional help. 

Take it from us, your local boxelder bug experts. We’ll do all we can to help you rid your home of boxelder bugs so you can spend time focusing on the things you love with the people who matter most to you — not on treating your home for nuisance pests. 

Here are some more important things to know about this pest that has become so prevalent in the Gresham area.

Boxelder bugs get their name from a tree

Boxelder bugs love boxelder maple trees. Food, nesting, everything centers on these trees when it comes to the boxelder bug, so if you have the female, seed-producing variety of these maple trees on your property (or somewhere nearby), that’s far and away the most likely reason you have an infestation.

Even if there are no box elder maple trees around, they are also known to sometimes nest in certain fruit trees, as well as other varieties of maple and ash trees. Though the seeds of these trees are their primary food source, they’ll also get the nutrients they need from the tree’s leaves as well. 

Boxelder bugs have a very distinct look

Boxelder bugs are about a half-inch in length, and are usually a very dark brown or black in color. This isn’t unusual for an insect, but what makes boxelder bugs so distinct in appearance is the fiery orange coloring that outlines the veins on their wings, the lines on their abdomen, the lines around their backs, and the divisions in their antennae. 

Their eyes, which are sphere-shaped and bulge out of their heads, share the same fiery orange color. However, it is important to note that they don’t always look like this. This description only describes the boxelder bugs at full maturity. The immature bugs are all orange, and progressively become darker as they mature. 

Boxelder bugs aren’t agricultural pests, but they cause damage

While it’s true that the boxelder bug doesn’t cause agricultural damage on the same scale as pests like stink bugs or armyworms, they nonetheless can cause damage to those trees or plants that they are extracting nutrients from.

For instance, if they’re overwintering on trees, it can harm the tree. Similarly, the boxelder bugs can cause dimpling, scarring, and even the premature dropping of fruit, which of course can be incredibly frustrating to those who were hoping to enjoy their fruit trees’ eventual yield.

Boxelder bugs like your home because it is warm

Insects are cold-blooded and cannot regulate their own temperature, so they’re naturally attracted to sources of heat. In the seasons where it is coldest for the boxelder (usually early-Spring and late-Fall, as the bugs are overwintering during the coldest months of the year in Gresham), you’ll most commonly find them on the west and south-facing sides of your home where the sun is hitting it. 

Typically, you’ll see them congregating in large groups in these warm spaces, and this is why having regular pest control measures in place will help protect your family and home. Our team will help you better understand the source of the bugs, as well as any potential areas of concern in your home that might be susceptible to their entering. 

Boxelders can enter the home due to deferred maintenance

Cracks in the siding, broken moldings, and other similar areas in need of attention are the perfect ways in which boxelder bugs and other pests will make their way into your wall voids.

Once the weather starts to get cooler in the Fall, the bugs will start seeking out places to overwinter for the season. This is usually under tree bark, in between rocks, and other spaces in nature that will reflect the true temperature of the season. 

However, if the boxelder bugs come inside your home, the enduring warmth of your house will attract the bugs and they’ll start to fill the voids in your walls. While it is unlikely, they can sometimes make their way into your living spaces if they get confused when trying to exit the home.

Boxelder bugs can be treated with professional assistance

Our team of expert pest control specialists is trained on the management of boxelder bugs, and can help you with the identification, treatment, and ongoing management of these pests. 

The sooner you receive treatment, the better, as the number of bugs will grow in size, making your infestation more difficult to deal with over time. 

The best thing you can do is call our expert team for your free consultation.

Our team is licensed, certified, background-checked and fully vetted, each one with an eye for detail and a passion for providing you with the best service possible.

Your service recommendations are fully personalized, and entirely hassle-free. We believe that pest control is most effective when it’s conducted by professionals who genuinely care about the customers they serve, and that’s precisely how we train our team. When you choose Aspen, you’re truly choosing a company that has your best interests at heart. 
Ready to finally treat your Gresham home for pests like boxelder bugs? Then it’s time to call Aspen! We can’t wait to serve you for all your pest control needs.