Okay - I admit it.. I'm a cold-blooded, heartless murderer!!

[C.Ann]

It's sunny and fairly warm here today.. I just went outside to put some stuff in my van (change of plans - I'll be babysitting my granddaughter and staying overnight at my DD's house tonight) and there were a gazillion boxelder bugs ALL over the house.. Of course even the SLIGHTEST movement throws them into a frenzy, so they were dive-bombing at me left and right..

I tried the "gentle" approach.. "Please don't do that.. It frightens me and I don't think your parents would approve.."

Did it work? No!

Next I tried the "bribery" route.. "Tell you what, guys.. YOU don't bother ME and I won't bother YOU.. Deal?"

That didn't work either..

By now I am flailing about wildly with my arms, twisting my head in circles (like Linda Blair in the "Exorcist"), hopping all over the driveway and pretty much doing something that could easily be mistaken for a cross between a grand mal seizure and a dance from back in the day called "The Chicken" (with just a dab of the "Hokey Pokey" thrown in for good measure)..

I have to admit - I'm not a terribly patient person when it comes to being attacked by flying objects, so I determined it was time to up the ante..

"Now look you guys, if you don't BUG off (no pun intended) I am going to have to HURT you!"

Giggles and more fluttering of wings!!

That was the final straw for me! You can only push a person so far!! Steeling myself against God-only-knows-what, I gingerly worked my way down to the "Dark Zone" (better known as "Our Cellar").. With eyes darting back and forth and tingles running up and down my spine, I quickly located my weapon of mass destruction.. I lurched forward and grabbed it, cackling mindlessly as I sprinted up the stairs and back out into the daylight..

Now it was back into the house - to locate the "secret formula".. Ah ha! "Childs play, " I thought to myself. "They'll never know what hit them!"

With a determination usually reserved for a mother bear protecting her cubs, I marched outside and let them have it!!!!! I showed absolutely NO mercy..

They were dropping like flies! Thousands of them - mashed beyond recognition.. Soon it was quiet.. No more fluttering of wings - no more giggles....

Just a sea of black and red boxelder bugs - washed away in a river of dish liquid sprayed from my garden hose!!!!!!

So there you have.. Yes - I did it.. I admit it.. I killed them all..


Now could someone please call my attorney for me??????

 

[wendyl]

You BEAST!!!

I only have one question: what is a boxelder bug? Sounds like a lady bug.

 

[DoeWDW]

When the going gets tough, C. Ann gets the Palmolive!!

Good for you!! I'll be happy with a few less bugs on this earth!

 

[goofy4tink]

You actually killed them?? You didin't do a catch and release program?? I'd be right there with ya!!!

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by wendyl
You BEAST!!!

I only have one question: what is a boxelder bug? Sounds like a lady bug.

--------------------------------------------

Boxelder bugs feed on low vegetation and seeds on the ground during the spring and early summer. These black and orange bugs (figure 1) move to the female seedbearing boxelder trees, starting in mid-July.

Figure 1. Adult boxelder bug


Eggs are normally laid on the trunk, branches, and leaves of the tree and are found almost entirely on flowering and seed-producing boxelder (figure 2 and 3) rather than on male boxelder trees. There is no noticeable feeding or injury to the trees.


Figure 2. Boxelder tree leaf

Figure 3. Boxelder seeds
During late summer and fall, boxelder bugs begin leaving the trees to find protected areas for the winter. Although many young insects may be present in the fall, only full-grown bugs survive the winter. These adult boxelder bugs are capable of flying several blocks.

Some homes are especially attractive to boxelder bugs, while neighboring buildings may have few. This usually depends upon the amount of southern or sunny exposure a building has. Boxelder bugs like sunny areas and are attracted to buildings with a lot of southern exposure. Buildings standing taller than surrounding structures can also attract large numbers of bugs. Although some people attribute the clustering of boxelder bugs to the color of the building, boxelder bugs are found on buildings of all colors.

As weather cools, these insects will push into cracks and enter houses near foundations. Many crawl under siding or shingles and get into wall voids and attics. They also may enter through doors, windows, vent openings, and other accessible areas.

Once indoors, boxelder bugs are nothing more than nuisances. They do not bite people and are harmless to property. When extremely abundant, they can stain walls and curtains with their excrement. Occasionally some may seek moisture and may be found around houseplants. They rarely attempt to feed on indoor plants, but if they do no injury occurs. Indoors, boxelder bugs live just a few days and do not reproduce.

During winter, boxelder bugs are generally inactive. However, mild, sunny days can wake up boxelder bugs and some may enter the home’s interior from their overwintering sites in walls and become a nuisance. Despite the circumstantial evidence, boxelder bugs are not reproducing in homes.

The first warm spring days bring the bugs out of their protected wintering places as they prepare to fly away to feed. Unless they are bothersome outdoors, particularly at doorways, there is little point in spraying them. These bugs return to trees for egg laying. Those trap-ped in basements and houses die during spring.

Boxelder bugs are not a serious problem every year. They become most abundant during hot, dry summers. Recently, they were numerous in 1988, 1987, 1978, 1977, and 1975. They were also abundant in 1958, 1949, and the hot dry years of 1936 and 1935.

Control
Outdoors
The goal of boxelder bug control is to prevent them from entering indoors. The first step is physical exclusion. Caulk or seal cracks and spaces found around the foundation, siding, windows, doors, and other potential entry points. Screen any vents that don’t close properly.

If large numbers of boxelder bugs are still found indoors, you may want to supplement your nonchemical efforts with an insecticide treatment around the exterior of your home. Repeat treatments are often necessary, especially when boxelder bugs are numerous. The best time to spray is late summer and fall when boxelder bugs are first clustering around the outside of buildings.

When spraying the exterior of buildings use one of the following insecticides:


chlorpyrifos (e.g., Dursban) as a liquid concentrate


diazinon as a liquid concentrate


permethrin as a liquid concentrate

Chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and permethrin are available in hardware stores, building supply stores, retail variety stores, and similar stores that sell insecticides.

Caution: Read all label directions very carefully before purchasing insecticides and again before using them.

A soap mixture can be used as an alternative to synthetic insecticides. Mix approximately ½ cup of a laundry detergent in one gallon of water in a hand sprayer or squirt bottle. Test this mixture first on an inconspicuous spot before applying it to the entire area, as it might stain cedar and other siding. Once you determine the mixture to be nonstaining, apply a coarse spray directly on the bugs as often as necessary, starting in late summer when boxelder bugs first start congregating around your home. The soap mixture affects only those boxelder bugs that are sprayed. It does not prevent other bugs from returning to the site. Therefore it is important that the bugs are sprayed as often as they cluster outside the building to maximize control.

You may also consider hiring an experienced pest control service to treat your building’s exterior. They have access to effective, residual insecticides, such as Tempo and Demon that give long-lasting control against boxelder bugs.

Large numbers of boxelder bugs may also be seen in the spring on the outside of buildings. These insects are emerging from their overwintering sites and are flying back to boxelder trees. Spraying boxelder bugs in the spring is not suggested; it has no impact on the number of insects found indoors in the spring or the numbers of bugs found next fall.

Indoors
Boxelder bugs found inside should be controlled by physical means, such as with a vacuum cleaner. Insecticides are not normally suggested. Remember that boxelder bugs do not live more that a few days indoors, do not breed inside, and are essentially harmless.

If large numbers are present, their numbers can be temporarily reduced with an aerosol ready-to-use insecticide containing either pyrethrins or tetramethrin. These sprays will not prevent more boxelder bugs from returning.

Caution: Read all label directions very carefully before purchasing insecticides and again before using them.

Spraying or Removing Trees
Spraying or removing the seedbearing boxelder trees on which the bugs feed often is not a practical solution to the problem; the adult boxelder bugs can fly up to several blocks and boxelder trees are usually common. However, if your residence is fairly well isolated with no other female boxelder trees in the area, you may benefit by spraying or removing those trees on your property. Boxelder bugs do not live on male non-seedbearing boxelder trees. Keep in mind that boxelder bugs are not common every year.

You can identify a boxelder tree by its leaves (figure 2) and its unsymmetrical, ragged appearance. Boxelder seeds are also very characteristic (figure 3). They are winged seeds, similar to maple seeds. Boxelder seeds appear in small clusters on the tree. Although boxelder trees are often found growing naturally along lakes, streams, and in thickets, they are sometimes found as a landscape tree. They are a fast growing tree, reaching a height of about 30-50 feet.

 

[C.Ann]

Go to this site to see a photo and the trees:

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG0998.html

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by goofy4tink
You actually killed them?? You didin't do a catch and release program??

------------------------------------------------

No - I'm not a "young" woman and I don't have that much time left.. Heck - I don't even buy green bananas anymore!!

 

[Stepharoonie!]

bugs! ew!

 

[bjgrazi]

I always wondered what those bugs were now I know.

Thanks. Sorry to hear they were such a pest to you.

 

[kadaten]

Originally posted by C.Ann
Go to this site to see a photo and the trees:

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG0998.html

THAT'S what those are! We have them, too, just not very many.... But I hate bugs, too, so go get the DAWN!!

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by kadaten
THAT'S what those are! We have them, too, just not very many.... But I hate bugs, too, so go get the DAWN!!

----------------------------

Be careful! Years ago we started off with "just a few".. Had a boxelder tree in our yard and had it cut down.. No other trees around that we're aware of, but year by year they increased in numbers and now we're overrun..

It's SOOOOO annoying - and looks NASTY with all of these bugs on the outside of your house - not to mention them "swooping" down on people when they come to the door!

 

[TalkisCheap]

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ok sorry but you sound just like me. I am heartless when it comes to killing those little pests....and I get very annoyed when my 2 crunchy granola but awesomely nice(and one rather good looking one ) track coaches make me run laps for killing them. What am I supposed to do??? Hold out my arm and let every bug in the state of maine come and have a grand old feast?!?!?!?! Jeez!

 

[Jeafl]

Way to go C. Ann! Box elders are my sworn enemy. They love to hang out on the entire back of my house, and somehow find their way in to hang out on the inside of my patio doors.

I despise them with every fiber of my being. I should by stock in Dawn detergent, because everyone in my neighborhood has the same problem.

 

[tkyes]

You go girl!!! I hate those darn bugs!

We get them on the sunny side of our house and they have managed to work their way into the house! YUCKY!!

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by Jeafl
I should by stock in Dawn detergent, because everyone in my neighborhood has the same problem.

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They like my house "best"....sob...choke...sniffle...

Well let me tell you, Sunday it's supposed to be in the 70's here - possibly 80's on Monday - so if I'm not up to the lake, I'm going right back into killer mode!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!