About boxelder bugs

The Boxelder Bug is a common Pest of box elder trees and I see them all over Utah. The adults are oval in shape and about 1/2 inch long when fully mature. Eggs typically hatch into nymphs in late spring and early summer. They feed on seeds, branches, and leaves of the boxelder trees and sometimes maple trees. After leaving the tree, they usually go for rock piles, fallen leaves, or the closest building they can find to hibernate. They love the sun and will usually stick to the sunny parts of your home. I find them on windows, porches, door frames and on the siding of buildings. The Box elder bugs hide in cracks and crevices during the cold weather, but can become active on warmer days during the winter. They love to find their way through any little crack and crevice they can. They DO NOT bite and are not harmful to humans or pets. They do love to poop all over your house though and sometimes stain fabrics when they get in.