Does DIY Pest Control Work For Boxelder Bug Infestations?

During the cooling off of the fall season and transition to winter, boxelder bugs start looking for a warm space to live in. Despite being harmless insects that do not cause any structural damage to your building, they can constitute a lot of nuisance and discomfort.

No one finds the sight and thoughts of several insects living and sharing the same space as them pleasurable. Hence the need to search for ways to control them

Pest Control San Diego exterminator helps to permanently get rid of Bedbugs in your space by using several effective and professional treatments and techniques.

5 DIY Pest Control Methods For Boxelder Bug Infestations 

To prevent a severe infestation of Boxelder bugs in the home or any other building, there are several easy and practical methods to adopt. These methods include;

1. Seal Up Windows, Doors, And Other Openings

Cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and other openings are the routes through which Boxelder bugs get into the home. To prevent them from getting easy access into the home, seal up all the cracks and openings on the walls of the building and behind chimneys. Also, gaps and holes around windows, doors, utility pipes, and other openings should be sealed with high-quality silicon.

2. Use Water And Soap Mixture Spray

A mixture of water and soap is an effective pesticide and repellent for Boxelder bugs. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray on the Boxelder bugs. The soap weakens the bugs’ outer shells, causing them to dehydrate and die.

Saturating the bugs with soapy water will cause the death of many and those that escape death will never go to that spot again. 

3. Clean Large Surfaces With Soapy Water

Surfaces on which Boxelder bugs are likely to form a cluster in search of warmth should be sprayed or cleaned with soapy water. 

This method helps to repel the bugs and keep them away from the house.

4. Sweep Or Vacuum The Bugs

Boxelder bugs are not to be crushed because of the offensive smell that they emit and the stains that they can leave on the surface on which they are crushed. You should use a vacuum to suck them and empty them into a sealed bag so that they will not crawl out back. 

You can also sweep them and throw them into a sealed bag. Sweeping them out of the house is not a good idea as they can find ways to crawl back into the house.

5. Get Rid Of Boxelder Trees In Your Yard

Just as the name implies, Boxelder trees are the ones that attract boxelder bugs. Therefore, you need to keep them as far away as you can from your home. If you have one in your yard, you can remove it and replace it with a tree that won’t harbor the box. But if you do not want to remove it, you can trim it regularly.

Conclusion

Boxelder bugs, over time, have developed a strong resistance to a wide range of pesticide formulations causing low success rates when they are used. Fortunately, there are simple, effective, and practical methods to adopt that do not require the use of chemicals.  These methods are also safe as they prevent the harmful effects of the chemicals from the pesticides that can affect children, pets, and beneficial insects.

Therefore, if you’re looking for easy DIY methods to help control Boxelder bugs in your space, you should try out one or all of the methods above as a combination for better results.