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Boisea trivittata
Overwinter as adults in sheltered locations. Emerge in spring to feed on fallen maple seeds and mate. Two generations per year; the second generation aggregates in fall seeking overwintering sites.
Feed primarily on seeds, flowers, and leaves of Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo/Boxelder), Silver Maple, and Ash trees. Use piercing-sucking mouthparts but do not cause significant damage to trees.
Do not nest or breed indoors. In fall, they aggregate on warm, sun-facing building surfaces (south and west walls) before seeking cracks and crevices to overwinter. Attracted by solar heating of structures.
Hundreds or thousands of bugs clustering on sunny exterior walls, especially south and west-facing, in September and October.
Boxelder bugs streaming into homes through cracks around windows, doors, siding, and utility entries in fall.
Finding active bugs indoors on warm, sunny winter days when they emerge from wall voids seeking warmth.
Crushed bugs leave reddish-brown stains on curtains, walls, and upholstery. Their fecal matter also stains.
When crushed or handled, boxelder bugs emit a pungent, unpleasant smell.
Common throughout southern Canada wherever host trees (Manitoba Maple, Silver Maple, Ash) are present. Populations fluctuate cyclically - some years see massive outbreaks.
Most visible in September-October when aggregating on buildings. Adults may emerge on warm winter days. Spring emergence occurs in April-May.
Exterior perimeter treatment in late August or September creates a barrier before bugs aggregate and seek entry. For existing indoor populations, targeted treatment of entry points and harborage areas provides control. Host tree management may be recommended for severe cases.
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