Box Elder Bugs
In Minnesota, boxelder bugs emerge from overwintering sites during spring as the brutal winters shift into sunnier days. The adults will be in search for low vegetation and seeds on the ground during spring and early summer, and begin mating a couple weeks after they started feeding. In mid July the females need to find seed-bearing boxelder trees (hence how they get their name) where they lay eggs on the trunks, branches and leaves. They are rarely found on male boxelder trees, and sometimes Boxelder bugs also feed on maple or ash trees. Boxelders do not harm any trees as we know and are part of the functioning ecosystem.
When the weather shifts again and the fall sets in, boxelder bugs start to leave the trees from where they were laying eggs and feeding to find protected areas for the winter. Although nymphs may be present in the fall, only fully grown adults survive the winter. During this time boxelders will become attracted to homes to find warmth.
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Box elder bugs are commonly found in Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs. Wherever box elder trees as well as maple trees reside, the Box elder bugs will follow. In the warmer months, these bugs hang out on trees, bricks, decks, siding, etc., so they can get direct sunlight. During the warmer months of the year, these pests lay eggs, causing more and more Boxelder bugs to hang around your property. The real issues occur when the winter months hit. Often times, Boxelder bugs enter into homes through the tiniest holes or cracks and get into the walls of your home to help insulate and keep themselves warm during the colder months of the year. Next thing you know, your home has been infested with Boxelder bugs. Rather than trying to remove these unwanted pests on your own, leave it up to our experienced team at Eco Tech.
This time of year it is very common to notice an uptick of box elder bugs coming into your home or business. These bugs are trying to find a warm place to live in order to survive the cold Minnesota winter. Box elder bugs measure about 1/2-inch long, and they are mostly black with orange or red markings, including three stripes on the prothorax, the area right behind the head. They do not cause harm to humans or pets but they can stain surfaces inside your home or property with their excrement. Eco Tech, a leading 
