Treatment
Box elder bugs and cluster flies
Box elder bugs and cluster flies gather on warm walls in September and October, then slip in to spend the winter. The work is outside, before they're in.
Signs to look for
- Clusters on the sunny side of the house on a warm fall day
- Slow flies buzzing at a window in November or on a warm day in winter
- Dozens of small bugs along a sill or in the attic
What I do
Four steps
- 01
Step 1: I walk the south and west walls
Where they gather first, and where they find the gaps.
- 02
Step 2: I treat the outside walls
Along the siding, window frames and eaves, and follow the label.
- 03
Step 3: I tell you what to seal
Window screens, door sweeps, the gaps around vents and cables.
- 04
Step 4: I tell you what to expect
Some will still get in. A vacuum is the right tool for those.
Before and after
What you do, and what I do
What you do
Fix torn screens and door sweeps before the first cold week. Keep the box elder tree trimmed back if you can.
Fix screens and sweeps
Trim back the host tree
Vacuum the ones that get in
What I do
I treat the outside before they're in. I don't promise they won't be back next fall.
Treat outside walls in September
Tell you what to seal
Callback within 60 days if they're back
Questions about fall bugs
Do I need to treat every year?
Often, yes. Box elder bugs come back wherever the host trees are. I tell you what's worth doing and what isn't.
Why are they in the attic and not the kitchen?
They look for a warm dry place for winter. The attic and wall voids are warm and dry. They don't breed in the house.
Do they bite or damage anything?
They don't damage the house. They can stain curtains and walls if crushed, so vacuum them up.
What about miller moths in the spring?
They need nothing from you and mostly pass through. Text a photo and I'll tell you what it is.
Send me a photo
A picture and where you saw it is enough to start.