Discussions

Time of year you will see these start to be in your house. Though they are harmless in the sense they don't cause harm to your home or bite you. They do shit everywhere they go.  
 
Kill each one you see.  
 
They are attracted by the heat of your house or anything else that gets warm by the sun as it gets cold outside. Then some move into your walls and trying to get out again go inside.  
 
Best thing to do is get rid of all Box Elder trees in your yards. This is the only tree that they breed and live on. It looks much like a maple with the seed pod wings. If you don't know, check with someone that does.  
 
What to do now -  
 
on a non-rainy day check outside for any collections of them. Especially near or on your house. Spray them with a water / dish soap mix to kill them. Insecticides don't work well in cooler weather.  
 
Make sure to remove any piles of leaves or anywhere they could be hiding. Especially cleaning around the home.  
 
With the rainy days it may not be worth putting any type of powder around the outside edges of your home.  
 
Check your windows or anywhere else they may crawl in. Caulk where you can.  
 
Inside anywhere they walk will be contaminated with their feces. If you see them crawling on eating areas. Wash thoroughly. If on food, throw it out. You won't be able to make it safe again.  
 
They can stain a light color service when killed so be careful but please kill them.  
 
They are not suppose to be able or want to lay their eggs anywhere but on a box elder tree.  
 
Though called sometimes a maple bug they do not live on maple trees.  
 
anyway just a few tips to help with getting rid of them.

Box elder tree is also known as the Manitoba maple tree. So yes they do live, lay eggs and thrive primarily on the seed baring female maple trees, they also thrive on other types of maple trees too. The soap and water is a good way to kill a lot more then just those select bugs and Should not be recommended. I use an old shop vac and I suck them up, works like a charm.

You took the words rite out of me mouth, Doug. They seem to gravitate to the female older dying maple trees(aka Box Elder).

Isn’t working. Is there anything else to use on them? We are bombarded with them.

Are you spraying them? I have been dealing with them all year. When sprayed, the soap/water does kill them, but you have to be diligent, because it only kills the ones you spray. Does not work so well if you just pore it on them.

Possible >:>:>: garden centres as the Green Spot, Alternative Landscaping etc. would have some safe spray to rid those babies. Their wings are very fragile, so when spraying try to hit their wings, that leaves them immobile. The internet gave all kinds of info on maple bugs.  
 
 
Oh, if unsuccessful, maybe Poulins.  
 
Edited by HAGD, 2019-10-03 13:18:37

Poulins ant killer works great

as we have not seen any this year at all!