Boxelder Bugs in Jordan & the South Metro?

Red-and-black insects that cluster on sunny walls and overwinter inside homes. Here is how we handle it.

How do you get rid of boxelder bugs in Minnesota? Our 2-treatment fall program is a 1-2 punch: the first treatment flushes them out and eliminates the current population, and a follow-up 7 to 21 days later solidifies the hold to take you into the colder months as swarms land and try to get in. We treat the foundation, siding, and around windows and doors in September or October. If they are already inside, a spring interior treatment helps. Sealing gaps keeps them out long term.

Quick facts

What they look like

Black with red or orange markings on the back and wing edges

Size

1/2 inch

Peak season in Minnesota

Fall, September and October

Where they hide

Wall voids, attics, and around windows and doors

Bite, sting or damage

Does not bite, can stain surfaces

What are the signs you have boxelder bugs?

Red and black bugs clustered on sunny south or west facing walls

Bugs inside windowsills and around doors in fall and winter

Dark stains on curtains or walls where they congregate

Groups on or near boxelder, maple, and ash trees

Why are boxelder bugs in my house?

Boxelder bugs feed on boxelder, maple, and ash trees through the summer. When the days shorten and the weather cools, they gather on warm walls and slip inside through gaps to overwinter.

What do boxelder bugs look like?

What they are

Black-and-red insects that feed on boxelder, maple, and ash trees

Common Minnesota species

Boxelder bug

When are boxelder bugs worst in Minnesota?

September and October, when they gather on warm walls before moving inside for winter

Are boxelder bugs harmful?

They cluster on sunny south- and west-facing walls in fall and move inside to overwinter, staining surfaces and surprising homeowners

How does Brothers get rid of boxelder bugs?

Our 2-treatment fall program is a 1-2 punch. The first treatment flushes boxelder bugs out and eliminates the current population on your home. A follow-up visit 7 to 21 days later solidifies the first treatment and gives it the hold to take you into the colder months, killing off swarms of boxelder bugs as they land on your home and try to make their way in. We treat the exterior, foundation, siding, and around windows and doors. A spring baseboard treatment helps if they have already gotten in. A maintenance plan helps if it happens yearly.

How can I keep boxelder bugs out?

Seal cracks and gaps around the foundation, windows, and doors in late summer

Remove seed-bearing boxelder trees near the home if possible

Check screens and soffit vents for gaps before fall

Boxelder Bugs

Here is how we handle it

Licensed & insured

Family-owned in Jordan since 2021

No rigid contracts

We tell you what you need, and what you don't

Details

Common questions

When should I treat for boxelder bugs?

September or October, before they cluster. A fall exterior treatment of the foundation, siding, and window and door frames is most effective.

How does the 2-treatment fall program work?

It is a 1-2 punch. The first treatment flushes boxelder bugs out and eliminates the current population on your home. A follow-up visit 7 to 21 days later solidifies the first treatment and gives it the hold to take you into the colder months, killing off swarms as they land on your home and try to make their way in.

What if they are already inside?

A spring baseboard treatment can catch the ones that came in. Sealing gaps prevents them from coming back the next fall.

Will they damage my house?

They do not eat wood or cause structural damage, but they stain surfaces and are a nuisance in large numbers

Ready when you are

Tell us what's going on and we'll build the right plan for your home. No pressure, no rigid contracts.

(612) 431-7378