3.23.2009

Box Elder Infestation

As spring approaches, we are learning that our new place has a serious box elder bug problem. It started with just a few in the basement...then it was more downstairs and on the main level...then small groups on the outside of the house and workshop. But on Sunday it culminated in the grossest display of box elder madness I've ever seen. SWARMS of box elder bugs covered the East side of our house in massive clusters. DISGUSTING! It will give you the heeby-geebies just to look at these pictures. '
After doing some research, we heard of a couple different methods of getting rid of them. We are experimenting. On our house we sprayed a highly toxic pesticide called "Buggslayer" (that's what JP is doing in the picture below). So far it seems to be working, but its hard to tell since it has been chilly out since we sprayed and the bugs usually come out when its warm. On the workshop we sprayed a simple mix of laundry detergent and water. We've heard from a few people that this works, so we'll give it a shot as a safer alternative to the pesticides. Any other tips are accepted!

8 comments:

bruce said...

yuk !
Bugs no good.

Andrea said...

Oh, that's disgusting! Hope you can get rid of them quickly!

Brenda said...

Oh Audra I'm bummed for you! We had terrible boxelder bug problems when I was a kid. We had some bushes outside our porch that turned out to be a haven for them. When we took out the shrubs they slowly disappeared. Maybe check around the house and see if there's any plants or plant remains that might be making the problem worse.

Stephanie Balvin said...

We have this same problem. We have used the bugslayer, which works for a while. Our neighbors had the exterminators come and spray the whole outside of the house and that worked fabulously, not one bug ever! They have to re-do it every fall, but it's completely worth it in her opinion.

The Petersons said...

Bummer!

Anonymous said...

Wow-that's crazy stuff! Lisa and Scott had a few at their place but they seem to have gone away-at least I haven't seen any in the last week or so. Hope you can get rid of them!

Anonymous said...

EWWWWWWW! I would cry. Thats what I would do. Good luck!

Erin said...

Sick! Those pictures are giving me the creeps!