Named from the boxelder trees they often frequent, these bugs feed by sucking juices from the boxelder tree. They can also feed on other plants, primarily maple, ash or fruit trees. They emerge in the spring to seek out host trees on which to feed. Due to their diet, they tend to reside in forests and wooded areas.
Boxelder bugs are likely to invade homes and enter buildings in the fall as a winter residence within the structure. They will find their way through any wall voids they can find. While they do not cause much damage to structures, they can leave behind a reddish-orange stain from their fecal matter on whatever material they find to rest on.
Boxelder bugs do not bite but they have the ability to puncture the skin, similar to a mosquito, which produces a red, irritated spot on the skin. While boxelder bugs aren’t dangerous, they are still certainly a nuisance that you don’t want to have in your home. Luckily, our professionals at Abra Kadabra know where to find these critters and how to get rid of them.