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Boisea
trivittata
Characteristics –
Size: Up to 1/2-inch long.
Color: Ranges from gray to black with red crisscrossing
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.
Habitat – Box elder bugs feed on maple and box
elder trees and usually infest buildings where these types of trees
are nearby.
Tips for Control – 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 over wintering pests, take the
following steps next summer to prevent a recurrence:
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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.
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Be sure that all foundation and attic vents have tight-fitting
screens.
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Check the soffit vents and any gable vents or turbine vents on
the roof.
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Have Curtis Pest Control treat the outside west and south
walls of the home near the eaves. This treatment should be
completed in mid- to late August.
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