Posts: 13,854
Threads: 1,154
Joined: Jun 2025
Reputation:
3
Although they're thick this year, I thought I could just leave them be.
No such luck. I don't know how but lately a significant number have been getting inside the house (I think my windows suck). So in addition to collecting them inside, I have taken to doing battle on the outside of the house with my spray bottle of diluted dish soap. (the soap changes the surface tension of the water and suffocates them quickly without having to use toxic chemicals)
Is anyone else having a major infestation?
Posts: 50,838
Threads: 670
Joined: Mar 2024
I've never seen more than one or two of those on the front porch.
We get lady bugs.
It's either early yet or this is a low population year.
They sit on the sunny side of the house for several days like lady bugs ?
Posts: 19,368
Threads: 1,726
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
3
I remember about years ago I was afraid to go outside of my house. The back fence looked like a serpent that was moving and undulating along the fence. There had to be millions of the buggers out there. It hasn't been that bad since then.
Posts: 50,838
Threads: 670
Joined: Mar 2024
ztirffritz wrote:
I remember about years ago I was afraid to go outside of my house. The back fence looked like a serpent that was moving and undulating along the fence. There had to be millions of the buggers out there. It hasn't been that bad since then.
Was Matt cooking chicken at your house, too ?
Posts: 4,019
Threads: 29
Joined: Feb 2024
Reputation:
0
I have a major infestation of Box Elders. I could use the bugs. Those trees grow 10-15 feet per year. I can't keep up and they can't be killed, continuing to sprout from the stumps.
Posts: 14,987
Threads: 1,340
Joined: May 2025
Had them at the old house down state in Flint. The south basement window well seemed to be the spot they liked best. They're a nasty creature and I hated it when they got into the house. (td)
Posts: 5,165
Threads: 147
Joined: Dec 2016
Send 'em to me. I've got a praying mantis that would probably love to eat all of them.
Jeff
Posts: 13,854
Threads: 1,154
Joined: Jun 2025
Reputation:
3
More about the bugs. They are harmless--don't eat anything in the house, don't bite, etc.--except their droppings can stain things in the house. They drop an enormous crap for their size and it's a runny dark brown that can be up to a few millimeters in diameter on a flat surface. I have a gift on top of my Mac mini. :mad2: You have to be careful when you pick up the bugs because they will often dump their load at that time (must be a defense mechanism).
I'm not sure but I don't think they have any natural predators. They must taste awful because even the spiders don't like them. They will catch them in their webs, of course, but I don't think they actually eat them. And if they were edible to birds, the birds would have a heyday as they congregate on the side of the house.
michaelb, while they feed on Box Elder trees, they don't actually harm the trees. They certainly don't kill the trees. As I'm sure you'll agree, Box Edler trees are just giant weeds. ;-)
