Boxelder Bugs: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know
March 23, 2026
Why Boxelder Bugs Love Your Home (and How to Make Them Leave)
At Anteater Pest Control, we get a lot of questions about a specific, red-and-black insect that seems to appear out of nowhere in massive clusters. If you’ve seen these bugs congregating on your siding or windowsills, you’re likely dealing with Boxelder bugs.
While they aren’t the most destructive pests we deal with, their presence in large numbers can be a major nuisance. Here is everything you need to know about identifying, managing, and preventing Boxelder bugs.
Identification: Is it a Boxelder Bug?
Before you take action, you have to know what you’re looking at. Boxelder bugs (Boisea trivittata) are easily identified by a few key features:
- Color: Dark brownish-black with three distinct reddish-orange stripes on the thorax (the area behind the head).
- Shape: An elongated, flattened oval shape, roughly 1/2 inch long.
- Wings: They have overlapping wings that form a distinct "X" shape on their backs.
Why Are They Choosing Your Home?
Boxelder bugs are highly attracted to heat and light. They are often found on the south and west-facing walls of buildings because those surfaces absorb the most sunlight.
Their primary food source is the seed of the Boxelder tree, though they also frequent Maple and Ash trees. If you have these trees on or near your property, your home is essentially a "luxury resort" for them—providing food nearby and a warm place to rest.
The "Nuisance" Factor
The good news? Boxelder bugs do not bite, they don’t sting, and they don’t carry diseases. They also won't eat your food or damage your furniture. However, they present two main problems:
- Staining: If crushed, their body fluids can leave a permanent reddish-orange stain on curtains, carpets, and upholstery.
- Odors: When threatened or squashed, they release a pungent, foul-smelling defensive odor.
Professional Solutions
When Boxelder bugs move from a few sightings to a full-scale invasion, DIY methods often fall short. Because these bugs can hide deep within wall voids, professional intervention is the most reliable way to create a lasting perimeter barrier.
At Anteater Pest Control, we use targeted treatments to stop these pests before they find their way into your living space. We don't just treat the symptoms; we help you identify the entry points to keep your home secure.
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Bats can be cute when you see them in nature, but inside your home, they are more than just a nuisance. Bats can carry deadly diseases, like rabies, which means that if you have a bat, you need to take steps immediately to solve the problem. Removal Options Removal is best left to a professional due to the risks involved. Single Bat A single bat may get into the house through an open window or the chimney. The good news is that this usually is a one-time event and you don't have an infestation. The best course of action is to remove pets and people from the room with the bat, open all of the windows in the room, and then close off the room so the bat can't get into the rest of the house. With luck, the bat will find a window and leave. If you must handle the bat, wear gloves and do not touch the bat directly. The safest option is to call in a pest service if the bat doesn't leave on its own. Roosting Colony Sometimes your home provides the perfect place for daytime roosting. Little-used attics are most at risk, but bats may also colonize crawlspaces, spaces in your walls, or outbuildings. You should not try to remove an entire colony of bats on your own. A pest professional that is aware of local and federal wildlife laws should be called in to trap and remove the bats. Prevention Tactics Once you are free of the bats, your next step is to ensure that they cannot return. Exclusion If a bat can't get into your home, you can't have a bat problem — which is why exclusion is your main goal. Your pest service will inspect your home and find the likely entry points that the bats are using. You can also watch your home during the twilight hours to find where the bats are emerging. Once you know the likely entry points and have had all bats removed from the house, you can seal up the openings so the bats can't regain access to your home. Alternative Dwellings If you live in an area with a high bat population or would simply like to keep these beneficial insect-eaters nearby, then providing alternative dwelling options can be just the ticket for diverting bats away from your home. You can buy or build simple bat boxes. These boxes are typically attached to trees or poles to provide a more attractive roosting space for the bats. Cleanup Safety Bats are not clean animals. If a bat has been roosting in your home, then you will have droppings (called guano) and urine to deal with. Guano Sanitation Bat guano can carry histoplasmosis, a fungal spore that can cause a chronic respiratory disease. If you must try to clean up on your own, you need to cover all of your skin, wear gloves and eye protection, and use a respirator mask. All debris must be cleaned up and all surfaces must be sanitized with a bleach solution. Professionals will also use a HEPA vacuum, which has a strong filter that ensures none of the possible fungal pathogens remain in the air. Dead Bat Removal Extreme caution is necessary if there are dead bats in your home. Conditions like rabies can still be transmitted from dead animals. Wear gloves and do not touch the bat directly if you attempt to remove it yourself. The area where the bat was found must also be completely sanitized with a bleach solution. For more assistance with a bat in the home, contact Anteater Pest Control, Inc.