5 Proven Ways to Get Rid of Boxelder Bugs This Fall Before They Take Over Your Home

As the weather cools off in autumn, boxelder bugs start looking for a cozy spot to spend the winter, like your home, garage, or garden shed. These black-and-red insects are mostly harmless as indoor pests go, but they can still be a nuisance when they sneak inside. Like their fellow fall pest, the brown marmorated stink bug, boxelder bugs like to congregate in large numbers. And though they won't cause any structural damage, hundreds of insects sharing your space isn't an appealing idea.

Here are 5 proven ways to get rid of boxelder bugs that find their way into your home, and to keep them out.

How to Get Rid of Boxelder Bugs

Use the following tips to deal with any unwelcome boxelder bugs looking to share your home for the winter.

1. Seal Up Cracks Around Doors and Windows

Boxelder bugs seek out cracks, gaps, and holes in walls, trees, and rocks to overwinter in large groups. The best way to defend your home against boxelder bugs (and several other indoor pests) is to prevent them from coming inside in the first place.

Make sure to weatherstrip your doors and windows and seal up any other apparent cracks or holes you find on the outside of your home, like torn window screens and openings around vents. Boxelder bugs aren't very big, so you likely won't be able to seal your house against them completely, but blocking off a few obvious entry points can help reduce the number that gets inside.

2. Vacuum, Don't Squash the Bugs

It's tempting to squash these pests when you find them in your house, but that can cause more problems you don't want to deal with. When squished, their orange-ish innards can leave stains on your walls, carpet, and flooring. Boxelder bugs can also release an unpleasant smell when crushed or otherwise disturbed. That odor helps them avoid predators outdoors, but it's unpleasant to have it linger in your living room.

Vacuuming up boxelder bugs is a less messy solution. Just make sure to empty your vacuum into a sealed bag immediately, in case any of the bugs survived the trip, and try to crawl out. You can also try sweeping them back outside to reduce indoor populations. Be sure to clean out the vacuum filters with warm, soapy water when you've finished, and if you're using a handheld model, clean out the dirt cup with a damp rag to remove any lingering bugs.

3. Make a Soap Spray

A simple mixture of soap and water will kill boxelder bugs. Add a tablespoon or so of liquid dishwashing soap to a spray bottle full of water and shake gently to combine. Spray the mixture directly on any bugs you see. The soap breaks down the bugs' outer shells, so they dehydrate and die. You can also knock the insects into a bucket of soapy water, where they'll drown.

4. Avoid Boxelder Trees

As their name suggests, these bugs love boxelder trees, a weedy type of maple native to North America. The seed-bearing female boxelder trees are a big draw for these insects, so if you have one or more in your yard, you could replace it with a tree that's less attractive to these pests. Or you can rake up and dispose of the seeds that appear in spring, because young boxelder bugs typically survive on fallen seeds early in the year.

However, the adult insects can travel a long way, so even a boxelder tree hundreds of yards away could host bugs that find their way to your house.

5. Remove Hiding Spaces

Boxelder bugs seek shelter in stacks of wood, piles of leaves and rocks, and overgrown plants. To keep them away, clean up areas that might be inviting to them as a spot to take cover.

Remember, boxelder bugs may be annoying, but they won't hurt you or damage your home. Keep your vacuum cleaner and soap spray handy for any pests you spot. When spring arrives, these insects will make their way outside again, where they belong.