Boxelder Bugs and Stink Bugs on Your Siding
Take a walk outside on the first sunny, crisp September afternoon. Look at the south or west-facing side of your home. See those clusters of red-and-black beetles, or those shield-shaped, prehistoric-looking stink bugs basking in the warmth? They aren’t just enjoying the sun. They are casing the joint!
Boxelder bugs, Stink bugs, and Asian Lady Beetles are what we call “overwintering pests.” They have absolutely no interest in biting you. They don’t carry diseases, and they won’t eat your wood like termites. But they will find a microscopic crack in your window frame, crawl into your wall voids by the hundreds, and hibernate.
Then, in the dead of winter when you turn up your thermostat, the bugs will think it’s spring. Suddenly, you’ll have groggy bugs crawling out of your light fixtures and stumbling across your ceiling while you’re trying to watch Netflix. It can be quite maddening.
In pest control, timing is everything. You cannot treat overwintering bugs easily once they are deep in your walls. You must mount the defence now, while they are still congregating on the exterior.
The Post-Read Playbook:
- The Question You’re Probably Asking: “Can I just squash these bugs or vacuum them up when I see them?” The Answer: Please, whatever you do, do not squash a stink bug. They earn their name, and your house will smell like dirty gym socks and cilantro. If you use your household vacuum, the exhaust will spread that foul odour everywhere. If you must vacuum them, use a Shop-Vac and empty it outside immediately.
- The Guru’s Recommendation: Read The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Yes, I’m serious. Sun Tzu says, “Security against defeat implies defensive tactics.” Pest control is warfare. You defeat overwintering bugs by fortifying your defences and denying them entry in the first place.
- Your Action Step Today: Go to the hardware store, buy a tube of high-quality exterior silicone caulk, and seal the gaps around the windows and doors on the sunny side of your house.
- Your Next Step Toward a Pest-Free Goal: Securing your home’s envelope is the best thing you can do for both pest control and energy efficiency. To help you master this, our next topic will be: “The Homeowner’s Guide to Fall Caulking: Slashing Your Heating Bill and Stopping Bugs Dead.”
When you need professional bug extermination, call City & Country Pest Control!
