Boxelder bugs may not be harmful to you or your home, but they can be a major nuisance when they invade your space during the winter. If you’re looking for ways to get rid of boxelder bugs, you can try one of these four DIY methods recommended by pest control professionals. 

Read on to learn how to kill boxelder bugs around your home.

What Are Boxelder Bugs? 

Boxelder bugs are insects found around North America and are known for their elongated black bodies with unique red-orange markings.

They are harmless to humans, pets, and buildings, but can be a nuisance since they often invade homes and buildings by the hundreds in search of warmth during the cooler months. 

According to Rania, boxelder bugs go through three stages of development: egg, nymph, and adult. Female bugs will lay eggs in cracks and crevices of trees, houses, and other structures. Then, nymphs emerge within two to three weeks and will molt several times over the course of five to six weeks before becoming adults. Adult boxelder bugs typically live up to three years.

As the weather turns colder in the fall, boxelder bugs also enter a state of dormancy known as diapause. This is why they are often seen around your home from late fall to mid-winter.

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4 Ways to Kill Boxelder Bugs

Try one of these four methods to kill boxelder bugs using ingredients and tools you probably already have on hand.

Dish Soap and Water

Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap with water in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture directly on the bugs. The soap breaks down the bugs’ outer shell, eventually dehydrating them and killing them. Davies says soapy water is one of the best ways to kill boxelder bugs.

“It's an inexpensive and environmentally friendly method, but it only kills bugs on contact and doesn't stop new ones from coming in,” Davies says. 

Vacuum

Use a vacuum to suck up the boxelder bugs around your home’s window sills, corners, attic, and entryway closets.

“[A vacuum is] quick and effective for larger groups,” Eason says.

Using a vacuum with a bag is best since you can simply throw the bag away, but you can also empty a vacuum canister if you use a bagless model. 

Diatomaceous Earth

According to Davies, diatomaceous earth (DE) is a safe, nontoxic solution to kill boxelder bugs.

“DE absorbs oil and fat from boxelder bugs' exoskeletons and kills them by dehydrating them,” he says.

Simply sprinkle this powder around areas where boxelder bugs hang out and it will slowly cut through the bugs and kill them.

Borax

Similar to DE, borax breaks down boxelder bugs’ outer shells, leaving them to dehydrate and die. Sprinkle borax around the base of trees of outside entry points around your home so the bugs are killed before they can get inside.

Be careful when handling borax since it is considered a skin and eye irritant and can cause illness if ingested. 

What Attracts Boxelder Bugs 

• Trees. As their name suggests, boxelder bugs love to feed on boxelder tree seeds and leaves. Boxelder bugs will also feed on maple and ash trees. 
• Warmth and light. These bugs love to warm themselves in the sun, which is why you often will find them on the south side of your home basking in the sunlight. This also attracts them to your home once the weather turns cool. Be sure to have cracks and crevices sealed up so the bugs can’t get in when they’re looking for shelter. 
• Pheromones from other boxelder bugs. During late spring or early summer, boxelder bugs release pheromones into the air to attract other boxelder bugs for mating. This is why you’ll often find these bugs together in large groups.   

When to Call a Professional

The most common time boxelder bugs will enter your home is in the late summer or early fall when the bugs begin to look for a warm place to stay over the winter.

If boxelder bugs start invading your home in large numbers and DIY methods aren't working, it’s time to call a pest control professional, according to Eason.

“[Experts] can provide more targeted treatments to prevent recurring infestations,” he says. 

Additionally, Rania says experts will use insecticides that may be more effective than DIY methods. “I recommend treating entry points to eliminate access, and using residual insecticides,” Rania says.