Contributed by Wilma Hammett , Housing and House Furnishings Specialist. Internet request, origin unknown. Boxelder bugs feed on the seeds of boxelder trees, as well as on the seeds of maples, ashes, and a few other tree species. In the fall, the adult boxelder bugs seek sheltered areas in which they can pass the winter. Quite frequently, they enter our homes through small openings around window and door frames or gaps in siding.
Chemical control is basically ineffective, although many people resort to it anyway.
The appearance of the bugs is somewhat unpredictable in terms of where, when, or how often they show. The simplest and safest approach is to simply suck up unwanted invaders with the vacuum cleaner or to smack them with a rolled up newspaper. Outdoors, you need to inspect the exterior of your house for cracks in the weatherstripping or caulking around windows, doors, and siding. None of these will be 100 percent effective. In some cases you can spray boxelders or maples in the summer, when the insects are actively feeding on the seeds.