Ranges from gray to black with red criss-crossing stripes on the wings. Nymphs have bright red abdomens.
Behavior:
A number of insects have discovered that heated buildings are ideal for surviving the cold of winter. Such pests include box elder bugs, cluster flies, and lady beetles. As the weather cools in late summer and early fall, the sun warms the southern and western walls of buildings. The warmth attracts these insects to buildings where they crawl inside cracks and stay there for the winter. This would be fine, but during warm winter days, some insects “wake up” and end up on the inside of the building.
Box elder bugs feed on maple and box elder trees and usually infest buildings where these types of trees are nearby.
The best way to control such pests is by prevention as described below. If it’s too late and they are already inside, it takes a professional to find and treat the right areas to minimize the numbers of pests seen inside. If your home has experienced a problem with overwintering pests, take the following steps next summer to prevent a recurrence:
Seal as many cracks and holes on the outside of the home as possible, especially on the south and west walls where the sun heats the home during the late summer and fall.
Be sure that all foundation and attic vents have tight-fitting screens.
Check the soffit vents and any gable vents or turbine vents on the roof.
Have your Terminix professional treat the outside west and south walls of the home near the eaves. This treatment should be completed in mid- to late August.
My Terminix tech Scott is the best! He is professional, courteous and absolutely thorough about his job. Thank you for sending such a blessed tech to my house. Hamlet, NC
Dot Janus
This letter is to say how pleased we are here at Morreene West Apartments with your services. We are very pleased with the technician, Christopher. He does a great job. Durham, NC
Carolyn Anderson
Terminix has consistently offered our apartment complex reliable, competent service. We are completely satisfied with their knowledgeable representative who is always punctual and does a superior job for us every time. Chapel Hill, NC
Nancy C. Riley
I would like to take the time to thank you for giving us such great service here at Carver Pond Apartments. Your Pest Technician Christopher Mitchell has provided us with excellent service over the last few months. Christopher is such a great help to us in providing helpful information so that we can better serve our residents here at Carver Pond. Durham, NC
