BOXELDER BUG

Boxelder bugs are well known in Ontario, appearing in homes in the fall. Boxelder bugs stray into houses through cracks in the foundation and siding, gaps along windows and doors, and other small openings.

The boxelder bug is usually between 11mm and 14mm (or 1/2") in length, and has a dark body with red markings on it. They winter over inside buildings, entering in the fall and leaving again in the spring. They are not truly harmful insects, though they do pose a nuisance.

They are best controlled with an exterior treatment to a building's fascia, soffits and walls.