Curious about those red and black bugs that swarm the outside of Toronto residents’ homes in the fall?
These are boxelder bugs, a nuisance pest native to Southwestern Ontario. They are more prevalent around homes in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) from late summer to fall when temperatures begin to drop.
Dry summers provide them with optimal breeding conditions, allowing them to reproduce in massive numbers. Because they enjoy basking in the sun to soak up the heat, local pest control professionals commonly find these black and red bugs in droves on south-facing walls all around Ontario.
Each year, as the cold weather sets in, they search for a warm spot to spend the winter, often finding their way into our homes. Although they cause no harm to humans, pets, crops, or structures, they are still frustrating to deal with.
To reduce the chances of this happening, we have compiled some boxelder bug prevention tips along with suggestions on how to handle them if these red and black bugs ever get into your home.
What Are Boxelder Bugs and Their Habits?
To effectively manage these infamous red and black bugs found in Ontario and all over Toronto homes, it’s crucial to have an understanding of what they are and their habits.
Boxelder bugs are small insects characterized by their black bodies with distinctive red or orange markings. They can fit through cracks as small as ⅛ of an inch in width. They can also fly, making it easy for them to get into your home when a window or door is open.
As nymphs, they look like small, bright red insects with oval-shaped bodies. As they grow, their bodies begin to develop black markings, especially around the head and legs, eventually resembling the adult boxelder bug.
If you notice tiny red bugs in your Ontario home or Toronto residence, these could be boxelder nymphs searching for warmth as the weather cools. Nymphs are often seen in clusters on trees and plants, feeding on seeds, leaves, and twigs.
Boxelder bugs are most commonly found in areas with many Manitoba Maple Trees (aka Boxelder Trees), which are abundant in Toronto. This is where they lay their eggs and feed. When the cold weather begins approaching, they look for a warm place to hide and hibernate during the winter, where they will be inactive until the warmer spring weather returns.
If your home is commonly infested by boxelder bugs in the late-summer and fall period, there are some preventative measures you can take to stop them from invading again.
Boxelder Bug Prevention
These black and red bugs native to Ontario like to bask in the sun during the late summer. Often, boxelder bugs congregate in large numbers on south-facing walls with extensive sun exposure all around the GTA and throughout the Ontario province.
If your house is higher than neighbouring homes or is in an area with no homes nearby, giving it full exposure to the sun during the day, there is a greater chance that you will find many of these insects resting on your exterior wall.
How to Keep Boxelder Bugs Away From Your Home
To prevent these red and black bugs from making their way into your home, you can try these proven tips:
- Treat any exterior wall that has a lot of sun exposure with a proven insecticide to keep them from resting on the wall.
- Check all window and door screens so you can fix or replace any damaged ones.
- Install screens on vents and soffits or repair damaged ones that are already in place.
- Install door sweeps on all exterior doors.
- Seal areas where cables, wires, and pipes enter the home to make sure there are no cracks larger than ⅛ inch in width.
- Use caulking to seal any other accessible holes or cracks that you may find around your home.
- Remove boxelder trees or seed-bearing trees near your home if possible. Rake up fallen seeds and leaves that can attract boxelder bugs.
Putting these tips to use will be very beneficial since most of these preventative measures will also help you avoid other common pest infestations that plague Toronto and other parts of Canada.
What if Boxelder Bugs Have Already Infested Your Home?
If it’s too late to implement the preventative measures listed above and boxelder bugs have already entered your home, there’s no need to worry. The worst they’ll do is dirty your furniture with droppings or leave stains if squished.
Once they are indoors, they become inactive, so it is unlikely you will see them all winter. If you do see them, it will most likely be on warmer days when they are coming out of hibernation. When this happens, the best way to get rid of them is to use a vacuum or a broom to sweep them up and throw them in the trash outside.
Using pesticides to kill them in your home is not your best option since it does nothing to deter other boxelder bugs from coming in. Spraying insecticides in an enclosed space can also be harmful to people and pets living in that space.
Instead, you can use a spray bottle to mix a few tablespoons of dish soap with water and spray the solution directly on the bugs. The soapy water will kill them without the need for harsh chemicals.
If the boxelder bug infestation is severe, it may be best to contact a licensed pest control professional. They can provide safe and more effective treatments to eliminate these red and black bugs for good.
Say Goodbye to Boxelder Bugs with Pestend
If boxelder bugs have taken over your home, we’re here to help. At Pestend, we specialize in safe, effective, and affordable pest control solutions to keep these bugs out permanently. Our expert team is equipped with the knowledge and tools to handle infestations, ensuring your home remains pest-free.
Contact us today to avail our award-winning service that gets results—your satisfaction is guaranteed! Don’t let these pests disrupt your home any longer. Give us a call to get a free estimate, and we’ll take care of the rest.
