When the temperatures begin to drop, boxelder bugs begin to huddle together on the sunny side of trees, rocks, and even residential houses. When they come to congregate on your exterior walls that’s only the beginning. Soon they are inside, staining your carpets, curtains, bedspreads, clothing and other fabrics with their excrement. It can be a nightmare. But, fortunately, there is a way to protect your belongings and your sanity. It comes in two layers.
Layer One If you have gotten boxelder bugs in the past, there is a good chance you’ll get them again this fall. When these bugs come to warm themselves on your walls and look for a place to overwinter, let them find your exterior walls sealed up tight. Here are some things to look at:
-
Make sure all of your window and door screens are free of holes. If you find any holes, there are some simple and inexpensive solutions available. Pop over to YouTube and check out a screen repair video from Home Depot.
-
Inspect all your door sweeps to make sure they make good contact all the way across. If you have doors that do not have door sweeps, have them installed before the invasion comes.
-
Inspect the weather stripping on all your doors. These bugs are notorious for sliding past damaged weather stripping.
-
Look closely around your windows and make sure the frames don’t have any holes. Use some tape to cover gaps and a caulking gun to fill in holes.
-
Check your basement walls for cracks, gaps, or holes. Use a liquid repair kit on those cement cracks and a caulking gun to fill in rotted holes or areas that are damaged. Don’t worry if it is a little unsightly. This is just a temporary fix to keep those bugs out.
-
If you have any vents or other unprotected openings, cover them with window grade screen material.
-
Inspect any areas where pipes, wires, or other objects pass through your exterior walls. If you see any gaps, fill them.
Layer Two This is a level of protection that only a pest control company can provide. At Adam’s Pest Control, we use an EPA proven residual products on exterior walls, and give special attention to walls that get the most sun. This treatment has two benefits:
-
It keeps boxelder bugs from exploiting any gaps or cracks you missed.
-
It keeps these bugs from congregating on your walls and making your home look–well, like it is covered in bugs.
When you need protection from boxelder bugs or any other household pest, contact us today. Our QualityPro certified team is looking forward to helping.
