Boxelder Bugs in Jackson, NJ

Challenge

A new customer in Jackson, NJ called our office after finding a massive swarm of "flying insects" on the side of her home. We were sent out to investigate and treat. Once we arrived and inspected the area, we identified these pests as boxelder bugs. Turns out, a majority of them were harboring in a small gap between the foundation and the chimney.

Boxelder bugs are black insects with reddish-orange markings on their backs. Their elongated, oval-shaped, body contains six legs. The markings on boxelder bugs usually include three stripes on the prothorax, the area right behind the head, and their body is approximately half an inch long. During this time of the year when the days are warm and the nights are cooler, boxelder bugs look for sheltered areas where temperatures stay moderate. Large groups of these pests will come together to congregate in areas where the sun hits. When a large mass of these pests gathers, they’ll often migrate to a nearby home to overwinter.

Solution

We informed the owner about the wide gap we found and offered to seal it up for her. She mentioned that her husband with take care of the gap when he returns from his business trip. For treatment, we’re going to apply a knockdown aerosol product in the small gap, since that’s where a majority of the boxelder bugs were harboring. This product will eliminate these pests almost immediately. Afterward, we treated the boxelder bugs and the surrounding area with a liquid residual application. In a short amount of time, they will be exterminated.