Box elder bugs in mulch

17 years ago

Hi all, I am very creeped out right now! I was doing some watering in my garden yesterday, and any area that was hit with water TONS of little baby boxelder bugs came crawling out of the mulch.

I hate those bugs - I used to babysit at a place that had them swarming all over the inside of the house and they totally creep me out.

Any ideas how to get rid of them? There is a stream and flat area behind our house, and my dad commented this spring that there was a bunch of box elder trees growing up in there - 5 years ago when we moved in there were no trees but now it is really growing up. Ugh!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

thisismelissa
17 years ago
YES!
We've had BEBs for years as we have very mature BE trees on our property line.

2 things
1: Soapy water will kill them.... use about 1-2 T of Dawn dishwashing liquid to a gallon of water. Needs to be a grease-cutting soap. Might cause wax on blue hostas and evergreens to disolve, otherwise it's harmless. HOWEVER, it has no residual effect.

2: For residual effect, use Buggslayer. WORKS GREAT! It's not instant, rather they have to digest it. but if you do it everyday for a week, you'll notice a difference.

It's important to understand that BEBs have 3 lifecycles per year. So, there will be 3 egg lays per summer, 3 sets of nymphs, etc. If you can kill off a whole set of nymphs before they grow wings, you'll make a HUGE dent in the population. Also know, they like the warm sun... they sunbathe. So, be sure to treat areas where they swarm... often the south side of the house/deck/trees, etc. I also find they like to camp out on black plastic edging.

Good luck!
dmid
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the info!! 3 egg lays per year??? Good grief I hate those bugs!!

We currently have a bug service come to our house and we are on their annual program - I called my bug guy and he said that he will come out and spray for them, but it is great to know what I can do myself. He has assured me that everything they use is safe for plants.
Related Professionals
Florence Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Topeka Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Zanesville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Murfreesboro Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Ithaca Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Fresno Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Mobile Landscape Contractors · Frisco Landscape Contractors · Manchester Landscape Contractors · Binghamton Landscape Contractors · Jonesboro Home Additions · Tampa Home Additions · Meridian Home Additions · Utica Home Additions · Napa Home Additions
sidney1515
17 years ago
One year I was in the back pasture and watched a city block long (or longer) of box elder bugs marching in a narrow column down the hill and towards. Stupid as I was back then I enjoyed watching them. . Little did I know the plague they would be to me. They got under the siding and would get into the house and basement. I got so sick of them. The chipping sparrows and catbirds liked to eat the small babies but I did not. . lol.

I filled a three gallon sprayer and put a cup of liquid cheap Sunlight Lemon dishwashing soap. I sprayed the house and everywhere I found them. They were almost gone the next year so I sprayed again and that finished the boogers off! I hate those bugs. . .lol

We had been having an envasion of those look-a-like ladybugs at the same time. It worked great on that, too. It was so bad that you couldn't open your mouth but what one of those darn bugs would fly in it. . lol
And boy would those look-a-like ladybugs bite!