Box Elder Bugs
In Minnesota, boxelder bugs emerge from overwintering sites during spring as the brutal winters shift into sunnier days. The adults will be in search for low vegetation and seeds on the ground during spring and early summer, and begin mating a couple weeks after they started feeding. In mid July the females need to find seed-bearing boxelder trees (hence how they get their name) where they lay eggs on the trunks, branches and leaves. They are rarely found on male boxelder trees, and sometimes Boxelder bugs also feed on maple or ash trees.
Are you worried that your home has been infested with box elder bugs? If so, you likely know it. Box elder bugs don’t just come in small numbers. In fact, many times they come by the hundreds, if not thousands. They’ll often congregate on screens, window sills, and if and when they make it inside they’ll become even more noticeable.
As a Minnesota pest control company, it’s not uncommon to receive phone calls about an invasion of ladybugs within a residential or commercial residence. When we receive these calls, however, we immediately start thinking about the ladybugs look-alike bug, the Asian beetle. Asian beetles look very similar to ladybugs but are distinctly different.
Box Elder bugs get their name from the fact that they are often found on and near box elder trees. They are generally about ½ inch long and are bright red or black with red lines across their backs. Their wings lay flat over their bodies, making an “X”. When the weather turns cool, Box Elder bugs often invade homes and other structures to find warmth in order to hibernate. 
Looking for a box elder bug exterminator near you? At EcoTech, we always make our customers our top priority. If you are noticing box elder bugs beginning to enter your home, get ahead of the problem and call EcoTech today. Known for our organic insect control services in the Minneapolis, MN area, we are more than experienced in handling your box elder bug problem safely and effectively.
