Boxelder Bug
Easy DIY
Identification
Black bugs with distinctive red-orange wing markings that congregate in large numbers on sunny walls near boxelder and maple trees in fall.
Can I DIY this?
Easy DIYYou can handle this one yourself.
With the right product and a little patience, most homeowners take care of this pest on their own. Follow the treatment guide, read the product label, and you're set.
Recommended products
Syngenta Demand CS Insecticide, 8ozFall exterior barrier before they overwinterControl Solutions D-Fense Dust Insecticide, 1lbDust entry-point voidsSome links may be affiliate links. Buggsy may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Always follow the product label.
- Check for boxelder or maple trees nearby — these bugs breed on their seed pods, so a tree on the property is often the actual source.
- Seal exterior gaps and cracks before fall, when they start moving toward the structure to overwinter.
- Apply a residual perimeter treatment to sunny exterior walls ahead of that seasonal move indoors.
- Vacuum up indoor stragglers rather than crushing them.
- If practical, treating the host tree directly can reduce the source population significantly.
Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, closed-toe shoes with socks, chemical-resistant gloves, and goggles. Add a respirator if the label calls for it or ventilation is poor.