Yes. Boxelder bugs can use small exterior gaps to reach protected spaces inside walls, attics, and other parts of a building.
Boxelders don’t want to be out in the cold. So once temperatures start to turn, they do that charming ritual where they all seem to mass on the same sunlit wall. This usually happens in the fall and as they are on the wall, they are looking for ways to get inside. When they find gaps, however small, they can get into wall voids and attics from there.
Adult boxelder bugs tend to get in through cracks around siding, windows, soffits, attic vents, rooflines, and utilities. These cracks can be so small that you have to look closely to see them or they may otherwise go unnoticed. Once inside a wall void or attic, they may remain largely hidden for weeks or months. A winter warm spell can wake them and cause insects to emerge into rooms. That makes it look as though an infestation just developed in the middle of the winter when in all likelihood, they’ve been inside for a long time and just happened to wake up.
If you don’t want boxelder bugs or other bugs like stink bugs to take over your space in the winter, a little exclusion work can help a lot. Inspect exterior seams and seal gaps as you find them with caulk. Repair damaged screens and vents if you find them and make sure that air can still flow through the way it needs to. If you’re not sure where to start, it’s a good idea to begin with the places where the bugs are already gathering en masse.
If boxelder bugs are becoming a problem around your Chicago property, Mosquito Squad of Chicago can help with pest control around the property. Call (630) 556-8315 or request a free quote online.
