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Why Box Elder Bugs Cover Wichita Homes Every Fall
Quick answer: Box elder bugs gather on Wichita homes in September and October because they are looking for a warm place to spend the winter. They pick the sunny south and west walls of your house. They do not bite, sting, or damage your home. But they get inside through small gaps, and once they are in, they are hard to remove.
What are box elder bugs in Wichita?
They are about half an inch long. Black bodies. Three red or orange stripes across the back.
You will see them in big groups. Dozens. Sometimes hundreds.
They feed on the seeds of box elder trees, maple trees, and ash trees. Wichita has plenty of all three.
Why are they on the side of my house?
Sunlight.
Box elder bugs love warm surfaces. As fall nights get cold, they move to the warmest spot they can find. That is usually the south or west wall of your home, because those walls soak up afternoon sun.
If your house sits near a box elder or maple tree, you will see more of them. A lot more.
Do box elder bugs hurt anything?
No. Here is the short list of what they will not do:
They do not bite people or pets.
They do not sting.
They do not chew wood or wiring.
They do not lay eggs inside your home.
Here is what they will do. They leave small stains on siding, curtains, and carpet. And they smell bad if you squash them.
According to K-State Research and Extension, the best control happens outside before they gather. You can read their full box elder bug guide from K-State Research and Extension.
How do they get inside my house?
Through gaps you cannot see from the couch.
Common entry points in Wichita homes:
Gaps under exterior doors
Torn window screens
Cracks where siding meets the foundation
Gaps around dryer vents and utility lines
Soffit and attic vents
They are flat. They squeeze into spaces thinner than a pencil.
What should I do if they are already inside?
Vacuum them. Do not spray inside your home.
Empty the vacuum canister outside right away, or the smell sticks around.
Sprays do not work well on box elder bugs indoors. They hide inside walls and behind trim, and they keep coming out for weeks.
How do I keep them out next year?
Timing is everything. Treatment works best in early fall, before they pile up on the wall.
Here is the order that works:
Seal gaps around doors, windows, and pipes with caulk
Repair window and door screens
Rake up seeds and leaves near the foundation
Get an exterior treatment on the sunny walls in early September
When should I call a pest control company?
Call when the groups keep coming back, or when you are finding them inside more than once a week.
An exterior treatment on the walls, eaves, and foundation gets them before they find a way in. That is the whole game with box elder bugs. Stop them outside.
Bug Shockers handles box elder bug control in Wichita, Derby, Andover, Rose Hill, Augusta, and El Dorado. No contracts. Family owned for four generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are box elder bugs dangerous to my dog? No. Box elder bugs do not bite or sting pets. A dog that eats one may drool or throw up because of the bad taste, but they are not poisonous.
Why are there so many box elder bugs this year? Warm, dry summers help more of them survive. Wichita summers usually give them exactly what they want.
Will killing the tree stop them? Removing a female box elder tree can help long term. But box elder bugs also feed on maple and ash, and they fly. Your neighbor's tree can still send them your way.
Do box elder bugs come back every year? Yes, unless you seal the gaps. The same house tends to get them year after year because it has the same sunny walls and the same openings.
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