This nuisance is not one you have to take lying down.
Boxelder bugs are black with reddish or orange markings on their back. Their body is a slightly flattened, elongated oval, about 1/2 an inch long with six legs and two antennae.
Boxelder bugs, also referred to as maple bugs, are truly just a nuisance pest. They don’t usually bite but they can when being handled. They can pierce the skin with their mouthparts, leaving a red spot that can be mistaken for a mosquito bite. Like stink bugs, if you crush boxelder bugs, they will produce an unpleasant odor that can attract other bugs. In addition, boxelder bug poop can discolor fabrics in your house since it is reddish-orange and can stain. While they do not fly, because of their red markings, these black and red bugs can be confused with spotted lanternflies. Boxelder bugs are sometimes mistakenly referred to as boxelder beetles; however, they are not classified as part of the beetle family.
“We installed your Termite Defensive a number of years ago and have not seen even one termite since the system was installed.”
