Andre CampbellThough one of the less destructive plant pests, boxelder bugs can quickly become a nuisance around your home [1]. They feed on plant sap but do not cause much damage. However, you may still need to get rid of them.
These bugs not only swarm boxelder trees but may invade your home and other indoor spaces as well.
Below, you will learn how to prevent a boxelder bug infestation or keep them away using home remedies and natural control methods.
Here’s how to get rid of boxelder bugs naturally:
1. Soap Spray
These bugs can become gregarious and congregate in large groups. However, a little dish soap and water mixture makes an effective home remedy for boxelder bugs.
Mix up a killer homemade boxelder bug spray by combining 4 tablespoons of dish soap with a gallon of water. Shake well and spray it directly on the bugs, ensuring that you saturate them fully.
The soapy water will trap and suffocate them.
2. Horticultural Oils
The chief benefit of these oils is that they can deter boxelder bugs and smother their eggs, helping break the life cycle.
Follow the instructions on the label on how to use it.
3. Vacuum Them
If you find a large group of these pests inside your house, the quickest action is to just vacuum them up. Next, remove and destroy the bag.
However, avoid squashing the bugs, as they release a bad odor when crushed. They may also leave orange stains on your walls or carpets.
4. Sticky Trap
Another boxelder bug control home remedy is to hang sticky traps.
Brightly colored sticky tapes will easily attract these bugs. They will then stick to the sticky traps.
Therefore, hang sticky traps in trees or near the house, especially in corners where the bugs like to hide. Remove and replace frequently.
Alternatively, make a homemade box elder bug trap using pieces of cardboard and a sticky substance such as petroleum jelly. Use the sticky substance to coat both sides of the cardboard.
Next, place your DIY traps at entry points around the house. The bugs will get stuck on them.
5. Vinegar
This is another natural way to repel boxelder bugs, some beetles, and other insects. You can use any type of vinegar; however, white vinegar is most commonly used.
Combine the vinegar with water in a 50/50 ratio. Spray it directly on the bugs water. This vinegar solution repels instead of killing.
6. Garden Hose
Box elder bugs found in large groups on trees can be sprayed away with a garden hose.
Hosing them down with a strong jet of water will encourage them to go elsewhere. Though this will not kill them, it will help reduce their numbers.
7. Seal Doors and Windows
As the fall and winter months approach, you may find more and more of these bugs congregating around and inside your home.
As they cluster together, they will push into any cracks or gaps in the house. To tackle this, brush off the bugs or vacuum them away, and have the gaps sealed up.
8. Trim Female Boxelder Trees
These bugs mainly feed on the seeds, leaves, and flowers of female boxelder trees [2]. Therefore, trimming the branches regularly will reduce the number of bugs coming around.
Cutting down the female boxelder trees entirely is another, but rather drastic, solution to help keep box elder bugs away.
9. Rake up Fallen Seeds and Seedpods of the Boxelder Tree
Another way to get rid of boxelder bugs organically is to rake up fallen seeds and seedpods around boxelder trees. These are the primary sources of food for these bugs.
Clearing away the seedpods and seeds that harbor these insects will help deter them.
10. Hot Water
This method will kill adult and baby boxelder bugs but may also cause damage to plants. So, only pour the hot water directly on the bugs that are not on plants.
11. Neem Oil
This oil is derived from the Neem tree seed and is recognized as a potent natural pesticide.
This non-toxic repellent is also safe to use. It causes no damage whatsoever to the plants unless you mix the solution too strongly.
You can also use it to make a DIY box elder bug repellent spray.
Just combine two tablespoons of neem oil with a gallon of water. Next, add it to a sprayer and spray all areas where these bugs love to hang out.
Alternatively, you can buy neem oil concentrate that is ready to use.
12. Essential Oils
The scent of essential oils such as tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and cinnamon works well to help control boxelder bugs.
For the recipe, add 20 drops of your essential oil of choice to some alcohol. Next, add the solution to a gallon of water.
Finally, use it to spray entryways to repel boxelder bugs. They hate the smell of these oils.
13. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
Use diatomaceous earth around the base of affected trees to help get rid of boxelder bugs outside. You can also use food-grade DE for bugs indoors.
This product will cause dehydration when the bugs come into contact with it. The nymphs will also die as a result of the sharpness of the diatomaceous earth.
Repeat the application after a shower of rain.
14. Monterey Fruit Tree Spray
This is an organic insecticide that you can use to keep these black bugs with orange or red markings out of your home garden.
Monterey contains pyrethrins and neem oil. Both ingredients work against many types of insect pest infestations.
Spray it directly onto and under the box elder trees to eliminate the existing bugs and repel new ones.
15. Attract Predators
Birds can be your most useful weapon against many bad garden bugs. Ducks, chickens, guinea hens, and other large birds may eat maple bugs.
Leaving spiders alone to spin their webs may be beneficial too. Rats and chipmunks will also go after maple bugs.
16. ECOWORKS EC
This is an OMRI-listed pesticide that is effective against a wide range of insect pests found in gardens and surrounding areas.
You can use ECOWORKS EC to kill boxelder bugs. Follow the instructions on the package.
Takeaway
At first sight, boxelder bugs (maple bugs) are attractive and may cause little to no damage to your home or garden. So, it may be tempting to leave them alone.
However, when swarms of these bugs start to appear, finding ways to kill or even deter them may become necessary. The home remedies and natural products listed above can help control these pests.
Sasha Campbell
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