With autumn taking hold in Elmhurst, homeowners across the city are seeing an unwanted trend. Bristling with black and red insects that congregate in the sun on your siding, crawl along your window frames, and inevitably slip through any crack into your home. These boxelder bugs are more than just a nuisance: they are everywhere, at times staining curtains, buzzing around light fixtures, and making residents feel as if their houses are under attack.
The conditions lend themselves to fall invaders in a maturing town such as Elmhurst, with its tree canopy and older housing stock closer to downtown. The city has more than 20,000 parkway trees, many of them boxelders and maples that these bugs favor, according to the Village of Elmhurst’s urban forestry data. If the issue feels too big to tackle, call pointepestcontrol.net to reclaim your space before winter hits.
Meet the Boxelder Bug: Small, Harmless, but Persistent
The boxelder bug itself is half an inch long and dark brown, with red or orange spots along its sides. Boxelders are named for their preferred host, the boxelder, but will also readily feed on maple and ash, both of which are abundant in Elmhurst neighborhoods such as Abingdon and York Woods. These insects do not bite or sting, and they do not damage your dwelling. You will not come home to them raiding your pantry, and they will not chew through your belongings either. But they are so persistent.
After they deem your house the ideal winter abode, they show up in hordes. One bug seen today could translate to dozens more hiding in your walls, attic, or basement, just biding their time until a warm day reminds you they exist once more.
The Real Reason They’re Coming Indoors
Those boxelder bugs are responding to cooler temperatures and shorter days, the natural signals for them to seek a winter refuge. These bugs are in survival mode in Elmhurst, as October temperatures can fluctuate between 65 degrees during the day and near freezing at night. They look for warm, south-facing walls of homes, then search for points of entry such as cracks around windows, door frames, utility pipes, and foundation cracks.
The University of Illinois Extension reports that boxelder bugs will start massing on buildings when daytime temperatures regularly dip below 70°F, which Elmhurst typically sees by mid-October. With numerous properties having the old construction gaps these bugs prey on, the city’s housing mix, nearly 40% of homes built before 1970, according to census data. To them, your home is not special; they need a place to shelter from the elements until spring.
Boxelder Bug Prevention: A Step-by-Step Home Check
- Seal window and door frames – Inspect weatherstripping and caulk around all windows and doors, paying special attention to those on south- and west-facing walls, where bugs stack up in the afternoon sun.
- Inspect foundation and siding – Search for fractures or gaps where siding meets the foundation; this is a common issue in older Elmhurst residences.
- Cover vents and openings – Put some fine mesh screens over attic vents, dryer vents, and crawl space openings
- Repair damaged screens – Fix or replace window and door screens because even tiny holes let bugs in
- Trim nearby vegetation – Trim branches and shrubbery back from the exterior of your home to limit bug highways
Talking to a Professional
When fighting an established infestation or when many entry points exist in your home, some DIY efforts may not work. Boxelder Bugs are a common challenge for Elmhurst families, and Pointe Pest Control has been serving Elmhurst families for years. They provide targeted treatment that creates a barrier around the exterior of your home to prevent bugs from entering. They know which Elmhurst neighborhoods experience the most traffic and the secret entry points most residents overlook. Instead of treating the bugs you see, they focus on long-term prevention so you do not have to fight the same battle next year when fall rolls around.
