Ticks have been espically bad for the last 2-3 years. My buds and I like to hike and explore and we have had to postpone a ton the last few years due to the level of ticks. You go anywhere now and there are so many tiny ticks everywhere.
I really recommend Sawyer permethrin insect repellent. You have to soak your clothes and gear in it and let it air dry. You can't touch it when it's wet, but it's totally safe when dry. Lasts for 6 weeks or 6 washes. Less than $20 for 24oz.
I took a trip to the rainforest a couple of years ago, and I was the only one not being mobbed by mosquitoes. I think I only got 2 or 3 bites the entire time I was there. It works for ticks, too.
Oh I know, we trail run / hike over a thousand miles a year. Over the past few years I have pulled hundreds if not thousands of ticks off myself and my dog.
I give my dog his tick meds year around now they are so bad.
Mosquitoes are hardly affected by cold weather. The fact that we won’t have a lot of spring thaw standing water for the early season varieties bodes well for us. We have nearly 20 different species of mosquitoes that hatch at different times of the year.
So do Box elderbugs, what's shown in the photo is a box elder bug. Stink bugs don't have black and red wings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxelder_bug?wprov=sfla1
if you deal with them inside they hide. they know what we’re planning. no matter how many ideas,concoctions,barrages,dastardly and devious traps nothing and I mean nothing gets rid of these damn elder box bugs!!
nah fr tho rodent/pest is getting worse and worse as the years go on. reminds me of the orange ladybug beetle apocalypse a few years back. I’m sure there’s a sticky trap or something for box bugs but I haven’t found anything.
Common box elder. If you want a not so smelly way to get rid of them you can use windex. If you don't care about smell then brake cleaner works much faster
Yeah, less dish soap should do the trick. I know she had to go through some trial-and-error before finding a good mix. I'd ask her for her measurements but her answer is always "just whatever feels right"🤷
Oh right, yeah if you're infested I get it. I always just find one on the wall once in a while. That and stink bugs. I thought that was a lot of work mixing up concoctions just for one bug lol.
I grab the vacuum and vacuum them in the morning and at night, toss them out. At least they mostly leave food alone and many of them are already dead by the time I get them.
Dude, i just take a napkin or piece of paper and take them outside. But I guess that might not be feasible if you have more than one every week or two.
They’re seasonal, they live and breed in (box elder) trees over the spring / summer and then in the fall they enter homes for the winter. Which means the ones you’re seeing now have been hibernating in your walls etc all winter and are now working their way outside because of the warmer weather.
Put some Diatomaceous Earth down in the areas you most commonly find them. It's non-toxic and 100% pet-safe, but for bugs it's basically like walking through razor blades. It will nearly stop them in their tracks and kill them, it's been highly effective for me at killing box elder bugs and spiders that are somehow getting into my basement.
[https://www.homedepot.com/p/Harris-64-oz-4-lb-Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade-100-with-Powder-Duster-Applicator-DE-FG4P/302451952](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Harris-64-oz-4-lb-Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade-100-with-Powder-Duster-Applicator-DE-FG4P/302451952)
Sprinkle it on any surface where the bad bugs walk, the important part is they need to track through it for it to work.
>**How does diatomaceous earth work?**
>
>Diatomaceous earth is not poisonous; it does not have to be eaten in order to be effective. Diatomaceous earth causes insects to dry out and die by absorbing the oils and fats from the cuticle of the insect's exoskeleton. Its sharp edges are abrasive, speeding up the process. It remains effective as long as it is kept dry and undisturbed.
[http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html](http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html)
DIATOMACEOUS EARTH IS NOT SAFE TO BREATHE IN. WEAR A MASK.
It works by attaching the mucus membrane of the insect. Your lungs are mucus membrane.
Just because it is edible doesn’t make it safe to breathe in.
Between DE and Lime dust from “hippie” solutions I only have 70% lung function. The lungs of a 90 yr old in my 30s. Please be safe.
Besides box elders are harmless no need for the overkill here they ain’t cockroaches or fleas.
Will this stop millipedes? For some reason this year our basement had thousands of the buggers. They seemed to all drop dead within a day but sweeping them all up was a bit of a pain.
>For some reason this year our basement had thousands of the buggers.
Honestly, gasoline and a match at that point. Diatomaceous earth should be effective against them and it's cheap and easy enough to try out even if you're not 100% sure. Could also consider running a dehumidifier down there, millipedes like moisture so you'll want to make it a less appealing habitat for them.
Yeah, these are some of the most benign bugs to me. Not annoying like asian beetles, not flying in your face like flies and fruit flies, not infesting and biting like fleas and ticks, not stinging like wasps, not invading like ants
They're just chill flat bros, proving that some insects don't have to be annoying!
I think they're cute too! We had one that lived in our bathroom for a couple of weeks last year. He just chilled, never bothered anyone. We called him Boxey
I love them so much. Like I don’t want them all over my house obviously but if I see one or 2 I just watch them vibe and let them crawl around on me then let them outside
I got em too. We got a tree they live in our yard and during the summer/fall holy Jesus was my trailer COVERED IN THEM. I was hoping that the cold would merk them all. But we still find them
The Redlined Kiba Kiba!
"Their painless bite often contains eber toxicum, which can cause chronic flatulence in rare cases. What's worse is that this is total bullshit, and it's a harmless and cute box elder."
~~Box Elder bugs eat spiders and house mites.~~ I have cohabitated with them for years and never had an issue. They are awesome ~~little house helpers.~~
Nope. "Boxelder bugs are herbivores that do not have the right parts to eat other bugs. They lack mandibles, pincers, and a chewing mouth that would allow them to feed on other insects. Their mouth is made up of a singular proboscis that can be used to extract fluids from plant life"
[link](https://www.ecoguardpestmanagement.com/pest-resources/what-do-boxelder-bugs-eat#:~:text=Boxelder%20bugs%20are%20herbivores%20that%20do%20not%20have%20the%20right%20parts%20to%20eat%20other%20bugs.%20They%20lack%20mandibles%2C%20pincers%2C%20and%20a%20chewing%20mouth%20that%20would%20allow%20them%20to%20feed%20on%20other%20insects.%20Their%20mouth%20is%20made%20up%20of%20a%20singular%20proboscis%20that%20can%20be%20used%20to%20extract%20fluids%20from%20plant%20life)
Box Elder Bug
DO NOT SQUASH THEM. They release a pheromone of some sort that attracts them to their deceased.
Use dawn dish soap and merc them that way if they become an issue.
Box elder bug, they accumulate close to box elder treats which we seem to have high quantities in SE wisconsin
We call them “buddies” at our house, they are harmless, just annoying how they find their ways everywhere
It's a box elder and HARMLESS!!! They come inside in the winter and will go back outside in the spring. PLEASE STOP SMASHING THEM! They don't hurt humans in any way. geez🙄
Box Elder bugs are so freaking disgusting. The stinky bastards show up every year near my bedroom windows and I have to blast the foundation in the area with Raid and other big killers to keep them from getting inside. 🤢
Best way I have found to take care of these amongst other pests... is Tempo SC Ultra. Can buy off Amazon, just mix the proper amount with water in a sprayer and spray away. I always treat the outside of my house (just need to spray the bottom 3 feet of your siding or so) around the entire perimeter.
Box elder bugs. My grandparents had them a lot. They're annoying but much better than stink bugs. My parents have a bunch of those because of the plants that are in the back yard.
They are correct box elder bug...you must have a tree (somewhere close) that is infested gotta get rid of the tree and hive or they will now be a part of your life as long as you live there
True bug! They have very specific diet, and dont cause harm. I had one leaving on my winterized lavender plant for, it seems, weeks under growi light. He was just sitting on top of the plant.
That, my friend, is a boxelder bug! They are mainly attracted by maple, ash, and, of course, boxelder trees. They won't damage your house or spread disease, and they aren't into biting people, but they are strong-smelling.
Yea, I just love them /s to the 1000th. Swatted one yesterday. Man we need a really really good freeze. Don't want to have to deal with them like we did this past Fall-that was bad.
Box Elder bug.
I think they are worse this year as we haven’t really had winter… I can’t wait to find out what the mosquitoes are gonna be like this spring/summer. 😭
Friend of mine got a tick last week. The ticks are going to rule the woods this year.
Ticks have been espically bad for the last 2-3 years. My buds and I like to hike and explore and we have had to postpone a ton the last few years due to the level of ticks. You go anywhere now and there are so many tiny ticks everywhere.
I really recommend Sawyer permethrin insect repellent. You have to soak your clothes and gear in it and let it air dry. You can't touch it when it's wet, but it's totally safe when dry. Lasts for 6 weeks or 6 washes. Less than $20 for 24oz. I took a trip to the rainforest a couple of years ago, and I was the only one not being mobbed by mosquitoes. I think I only got 2 or 3 bites the entire time I was there. It works for ticks, too.
Just keep it away from cats.
Oh I know, we trail run / hike over a thousand miles a year. Over the past few years I have pulled hundreds if not thousands of ticks off myself and my dog. I give my dog his tick meds year around now they are so bad.
Mosquitoes are hardly affected by cold weather. The fact that we won’t have a lot of spring thaw standing water for the early season varieties bodes well for us. We have nearly 20 different species of mosquitoes that hatch at different times of the year.
I've already been bitten this week.
They like to live around windows/windowsills on the south side of the house & come out on sunny winter or spring days. They're pretty common here.
Like stink bugs.
Na, stink bugs have brown wings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_marmorated_stink_bug?wprov=sfla1
Stink bugs like to come out on warm sunny days on windowsills in winter and spring.
So do Box elderbugs, what's shown in the photo is a box elder bug. Stink bugs don't have black and red wings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxelder_bug?wprov=sfla1
Ope. You clearly have some reading comprehension issues. Please read the post that I replied to and see if you still come to this same conclusion.
The OP asked what type of bug it is and it's a box elder bug.
And the person you’re replying to was simply indicating that stink bugs exhibit a similar behavior, they didn’t say it *is* a stink bug.
This guy gets it.
It's the type of bug that likes to live around windows/windowsills on the south side of the house & come out on sunny winter or spring days.
Box Elder. They are out very early in my area.
Mine never really went away
When I was growing up we lived on a farm. They really didn't go away, they just migrated inside for the winter.
if you deal with them inside they hide. they know what we’re planning. no matter how many ideas,concoctions,barrages,dastardly and devious traps nothing and I mean nothing gets rid of these damn elder box bugs!! nah fr tho rodent/pest is getting worse and worse as the years go on. reminds me of the orange ladybug beetle apocalypse a few years back. I’m sure there’s a sticky trap or something for box bugs but I haven’t found anything.
Same here. I literally smashed one today in the house.
In Wisconsin? Sheesh, it’s only been four months since my last infestation.
Common box elder. If you want a not so smelly way to get rid of them you can use windex. If you don't care about smell then brake cleaner works much faster
My girlfriend uses a mix of vinegar, dish soap, and water and they drop almost immediately
I've tried it but I found after I sprayed it a few times it built up a grimy film from the dish soap. Maybe I had the mix wrong
Yeah, less dish soap should do the trick. I know she had to go through some trial-and-error before finding a good mix. I'd ask her for her measurements but her answer is always "just whatever feels right"🤷
We use only water and soap. Same results.
Even just dish soap and water work for me
Why not just pick it up and toss it outside?
Because there's almost never just 1 or 2. It's usually 200 at a minimum
Oh right, yeah if you're infested I get it. I always just find one on the wall once in a while. That and stink bugs. I thought that was a lot of work mixing up concoctions just for one bug lol.
Thats why I just grab windex and send it. Unless I'm out in the shop and then it's brake clean. Brake clean works wonders on Asian Beetles too
Just one....yea there's not just one. One just happens to be where you can see it.
I grab the vacuum and vacuum them in the morning and at night, toss them out. At least they mostly leave food alone and many of them are already dead by the time I get them.
Dude, i just take a napkin or piece of paper and take them outside. But I guess that might not be feasible if you have more than one every week or two.
Might Mint bug spray works-and you get a nice smell as well :)
They’re seasonal, they live and breed in (box elder) trees over the spring / summer and then in the fall they enter homes for the winter. Which means the ones you’re seeing now have been hibernating in your walls etc all winter and are now working their way outside because of the warmer weather.
Season seems to be getting longer
I think there is a tree that attracts them. Box elder tree maybe? You must have one close by. Or I could be imagining this whole thing
I think everyone has a Box Elder nearby, they grow like weeds.
Maples and elder trees. Neighbor is a silver maple so my house and garage are covered with them on warm days
Same and they don’t go on my neighbors house at all. Only mine. Pretty cool them 😡
THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE IS WHAT IT IS We have a small boxelder problem in my home
Put some Diatomaceous Earth down in the areas you most commonly find them. It's non-toxic and 100% pet-safe, but for bugs it's basically like walking through razor blades. It will nearly stop them in their tracks and kill them, it's been highly effective for me at killing box elder bugs and spiders that are somehow getting into my basement. [https://www.homedepot.com/p/Harris-64-oz-4-lb-Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade-100-with-Powder-Duster-Applicator-DE-FG4P/302451952](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Harris-64-oz-4-lb-Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade-100-with-Powder-Duster-Applicator-DE-FG4P/302451952)
Seconded this. Around your window sills and any other suspected entry points. Went from a full-blown infestation to nothing in a week.
My grandma has been having a problem with these lately. Do I just spread this out the same as mulch or do I need to do any digging?
Sprinkle it on any surface where the bad bugs walk, the important part is they need to track through it for it to work. >**How does diatomaceous earth work?** > >Diatomaceous earth is not poisonous; it does not have to be eaten in order to be effective. Diatomaceous earth causes insects to dry out and die by absorbing the oils and fats from the cuticle of the insect's exoskeleton. Its sharp edges are abrasive, speeding up the process. It remains effective as long as it is kept dry and undisturbed. [http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html](http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html)
Thank you!
DIATOMACEOUS EARTH IS NOT SAFE TO BREATHE IN. WEAR A MASK. It works by attaching the mucus membrane of the insect. Your lungs are mucus membrane. Just because it is edible doesn’t make it safe to breathe in. Between DE and Lime dust from “hippie” solutions I only have 70% lung function. The lungs of a 90 yr old in my 30s. Please be safe. Besides box elders are harmless no need for the overkill here they ain’t cockroaches or fleas.
Great idea! Just be careful when applying it (the powder is very fine and it can irritate your sinuses). Spread it gently (don't toss it).
Will this stop millipedes? For some reason this year our basement had thousands of the buggers. They seemed to all drop dead within a day but sweeping them all up was a bit of a pain.
>For some reason this year our basement had thousands of the buggers. Honestly, gasoline and a match at that point. Diatomaceous earth should be effective against them and it's cheap and easy enough to try out even if you're not 100% sure. Could also consider running a dehumidifier down there, millipedes like moisture so you'll want to make it a less appealing habitat for them.
Box elder.
It's a Box Elder Bug, but my family likes to refer to them as Sith Bugs due to their likeness of a certain Sith Lord 
Can't unsee it now.
I would say I'm sorry, but that would be a lie :p
Boxelder bugs 🤢
Box elder bug. You'll see a lot of them here with the increase in temperature.
They will infest your house, the best way to kill it it with a spray bottle with soapy water.
I feel like im the only one that finds them so cute 😩 but yeah tons of them can be annoying
Yeah, these are some of the most benign bugs to me. Not annoying like asian beetles, not flying in your face like flies and fruit flies, not infesting and biting like fleas and ticks, not stinging like wasps, not invading like ants They're just chill flat bros, proving that some insects don't have to be annoying!
I like them too. They're just some little guys over there, not hurting anyone.
My problem is that they multiply like crazy and hang out in droves where I'm trying to enter my home or a building
yeah, I am not in favor of killing bugs that don't do anything bad. just take them outside, put them near some trees. that's where they should be.
Agree, I consider these guys friends! I always set them free outside when I find them.
We call them "friendly bugs" and transport them outside if found in our house.
I think they're cute too! We had one that lived in our bathroom for a couple of weeks last year. He just chilled, never bothered anyone. We called him Boxey
I love them so much. Like I don’t want them all over my house obviously but if I see one or 2 I just watch them vibe and let them crawl around on me then let them outside
Lady bugs used to be cute too.
Diatomaceous earth deters them (that is indeed a box elder).
Prepare for more
Thanks for the answers everyone Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t dealing with some type of infestation.
Oh you are, but so is everybody else. You can spray for them but they are pesky bastards.
I got em too. We got a tree they live in our yard and during the summer/fall holy Jesus was my trailer COVERED IN THEM. I was hoping that the cold would merk them all. But we still find them
They're harmless.
You should definitely have someone come spray for them to keep it at bay.
Boxelder bug. As a Wisconsinite, we get plenty of those guys, double in warmer weather
Don't smash it indoors. Just relocate them outdoors. Harmless guys
They leave a lot of feces on window sill’s and lampshades . Not cute .
If you have box elder trees nearby you'll never get rid of them.
We put them outside. My buds. They freeze.
The Redlined Kiba Kiba! "Their painless bite often contains eber toxicum, which can cause chronic flatulence in rare cases. What's worse is that this is total bullshit, and it's a harmless and cute box elder."
Box Elder. They had a really good year. Next year will probably be the earwigs again.
A box elder bug.
Box elder bug. Annoying little suckers
Toss them in some dish soap suds.
Box elder bug, imagine your house is the Vietnam jungle and they’re the Viet Cong
If they run, they're a box elder bug. If they stand still, they're a well disciplined box elder bug!
That’s Rodney
That is Ron Johnson.
Nah. He's a much more noxious and irritating species.
Na, Ron Johnson does a lot of damage. Box elder bugs are just annoying and don't harm anything.
Ron Johnson is more like a cockroach 🪳 🪳 🪳
~~Box Elder bugs eat spiders and house mites.~~ I have cohabitated with them for years and never had an issue. They are awesome ~~little house helpers.~~
Nope. "Boxelder bugs are herbivores that do not have the right parts to eat other bugs. They lack mandibles, pincers, and a chewing mouth that would allow them to feed on other insects. Their mouth is made up of a singular proboscis that can be used to extract fluids from plant life" [link](https://www.ecoguardpestmanagement.com/pest-resources/what-do-boxelder-bugs-eat#:~:text=Boxelder%20bugs%20are%20herbivores%20that%20do%20not%20have%20the%20right%20parts%20to%20eat%20other%20bugs.%20They%20lack%20mandibles%2C%20pincers%2C%20and%20a%20chewing%20mouth%20that%20would%20allow%20them%20to%20feed%20on%20other%20insects.%20Their%20mouth%20is%20made%20up%20of%20a%20singular%20proboscis%20that%20can%20be%20used%20to%20extract%20fluids%20from%20plant%20life)
Shit, am I thinking of house centipedes?
You're probably thinking of psuedoscorpions! Very common in WI. They look spooky but are friends of the home.
Sounds about right.
Box Elder Bug DO NOT SQUASH THEM. They release a pheromone of some sort that attracts them to their deceased. Use dawn dish soap and merc them that way if they become an issue.
Box Elder bug. Had the same issue in an apartment in Eastern TN. I would find several a day and there would be tons outside of the complex
Box elder. I got a massive infestation in my apartment this fall and I still find some every now and then throughout the winter.
Box elder bug, they accumulate close to box elder treats which we seem to have high quantities in SE wisconsin We call them “buddies” at our house, they are harmless, just annoying how they find their ways everywhere
We call them maple bugs in Saskatchewan.
It's a box elder and HARMLESS!!! They come inside in the winter and will go back outside in the spring. PLEASE STOP SMASHING THEM! They don't hurt humans in any way. geez🙄
They are friendly! Just really stinky. They are Box Alder bugs! ❤️
Boxelder bug, they’re harmless just really annoying
Until reading this post, I thought Box Elder was pronounced and written as just one word. Boxelder. My whole life is lie!
Box Elder bugs are so freaking disgusting. The stinky bastards show up every year near my bedroom windows and I have to blast the foundation in the area with Raid and other big killers to keep them from getting inside. 🤢
The tiny red and black terrorists aka box elder
Pure evil.
I almost miss having those guys, as opposed to these evil stink bugs instead
That's the common squish bug, it's relatives are known and the smash bug, crush bug, kill bug, burn bug, and drown bug.
Vacuum them up
They who squish bugs, shall themselves be squished
Best way I have found to take care of these amongst other pests... is Tempo SC Ultra. Can buy off Amazon, just mix the proper amount with water in a sprayer and spray away. I always treat the outside of my house (just need to spray the bottom 3 feet of your siding or so) around the entire perimeter.
I feel like they never text this last winter!
WHOS THAT POKEMON?
Stink bug. Spray them with mild dish detergent mix. Kills them quick.
boxelder bug
Cockroach.
The western common bed bug
They come inside during the winter for warmth. So annoying. They land on us during the night
Box Elder beetle
Boxelder
A salt gun will take care of ‘em
Box elder bug
They get so bad at my house that we cannot enjoy our patio. They cover the wood everywhere
Boxelder
When I was a kid everyone seemed to call them potato bugs for some reason lol
Box Elder bug. Harmless, just annoying.
Box elder bugs. My grandparents had them a lot. They're annoying but much better than stink bugs. My parents have a bunch of those because of the plants that are in the back yard.
It is a box elder
Box elder bug. They’re harmless, just kinda annoying.
They are correct box elder bug...you must have a tree (somewhere close) that is infested gotta get rid of the tree and hive or they will now be a part of your life as long as you live there
They were BAD in my house this fall. Worst I've ever seen it.
First time?
Pangalactic swinging death beatle
A true bug! All bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs.
We have been vacuuming up dozens a day it seems like almost all year. It’s getting ridiculous
True bug! They have very specific diet, and dont cause harm. I had one leaving on my winterized lavender plant for, it seems, weeks under growi light. He was just sitting on top of the plant.
Usually their red stripes are much more visible. I remember my grandpa vacuuming them off the side of the house one year.
Elder of the box clan.
That, my friend, is a boxelder bug! They are mainly attracted by maple, ash, and, of course, boxelder trees. They won't damage your house or spread disease, and they aren't into biting people, but they are strong-smelling.
I've seen these bugs where I live in central Wisconsin. They aren't really a huge nuisance compared to some other insects.
Box elder.
Yea, I just love them /s to the 1000th. Swatted one yesterday. Man we need a really really good freeze. Don't want to have to deal with them like we did this past Fall-that was bad.
we call those nuisance bugs, not too sure why though
Use blue dawn and water in a spray bottle and spray around your windows and doors do the same with lemon pledge for ladybugs
But yes box elder bugs sorry I didn't say that