Yes, especially when the siding is warm and sunny. Boxelder bugs often gather on exposed walls in fall before looking for protected places to overwinter.
Boxelder bugs don’t want siding the same way they want food. But if you see them massing on your walls in October, you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise. Boxelder bugs primarily feed on plant material outdoors during warmer months. But in the fall, houses promise warmth, especially on those walls that get a lot of sun in the afternoon.
Homeowners often see boxelder bugs, which are red and black, clustered on siding, foundations, windows, and other parts of the home’s exterior even though they were barely noticeable earlier in the year. They’re looking for shelter.
As temperatures fall, boxelder bugs start looking for small gaps they can use to get inside. Gaps can often be found around windows and doors, siding, utility penetrations, soffits, and vents. Once inside the structure, they’re not dangerous, but they are annoying. They tend to reappear indoors on warm winter days or as temperatures rise in the spring.
The best thing you can do is prevent them from getting inside in great numbers. You can do this by inspecting and repairing exterior seams. Houses often have damaged screens and seals, which, if fixed, mean fewer boxelder bugs can get inside.
You may still see bugs resting on exterior walls even when the structure is well sealed. The goal of exclusion is to make it harder for them to turn temporary outdoor aggregation into an indoor overwintering problem.
If boxelder bugs are gathering around or entering your Central New Jersey home, Mosquito Squad of Central New Jersey can help with pest control around the property. Call (732) 313-3932 or request a free quote online.
