Help! Boxelder bugs! - RV-Dreams Community Forum

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Help! Boxelder bugs!

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

You could always move to a climate where it is COLD and SNOWING...............That would likely get rid of them. Haha

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

Use a vacuum to get them off where you can get to them and then an insecticidal soap to wash the areas. Test the soap to make sure it won't damage the surface.

Place metal window screen over the larger screen to stop them from getting in.

-- Edited by The Bear II on Friday 6th of November 2015 10:36:45 AM

Someday · RV-Dreams Family Member

Never experienced that but I'd do what Bear II said initially. Are these type of bugs prone to be within a certain radius of Box Elder? Sorry if that's a dumb question but if so can you not spray the bush that they thrive on? Can you relocate to where they might not be quite so prevalent if the latter is the case.

FWIW: We've bought some screen cloth (just like on bug screens), cut to size and put on the inside of any larger opening area/vents. Of course we'll have to keep an eye that they don't get bunged up to prevent airflow over time, maybe wash or replace in due course. I just wanted to try and keep out any worrying critters that could sneak in through the larger openings. So far so good, of course for mice, they'd just chew through it so peppermint and dryer sheets thus far have helped us in that regards.

SD.

Judy L · RV-Dreams Family Member

I used Dawn and water in a spray bottle to kill them. Can't tell you why it works but it sure does. I think I used maybe a tablespoon of Dawn and a big spray bottle. Hope it works for you. Good luck!

Selah · RV-Dreams Family Member

Insecticidal soap, available at most garden stores, will kill them almost instantly. It is non flammable so safe around your vents. After initial kill spray the area with Ortho Home Defense, also non flammable.

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Update: I used a solution of Dawn & water (although more like 1/4 bottle instead of a tablespoon!) and it worked amazingly well!!! Killed them all on contact. Then installed fine fiberglass mesh screening inside all the vents to keep them out in the future. Now we still need to get up on the roof and do the same on all the a/c vents.

-- Edited by cherylbrv on Tuesday 10th of November 2015 11:01:32 AM

ticat900 · RV-Dreams Family Member

what area are u in that there in such high numbers? Iam in south California but only get a few once and awhile
Just use a common ant/bug spray u get at Home Depot. works like a charm

Someday · RV-Dreams Family Member

Useful to know info on solution from Judy on things we typically have to hand. Thanks for sharing your results Cheryl.

Judy L · RV-Dreams Family Member

We had lots of boxelder bugs in Iowa where I grew up. They always try to come inside in the fall and used to cover big patches on the back of our house (basement walls). I imagine that the insecticidal soap might be even more effective but we always just used dawn (probably any dish soap would work). I think they like boxelder trees and there was one in the neighbor's yard. I also understand they're attracted to maple and ash so you're more like to to see them if you have those trees in the neighborhood.

Glad to hear the Dawn worked for you :)

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

Up here they call them Maple bugs. They loiter on the surfaces of walls where there is nice warm sun. We usually use any kind of dish soap in a garden hose sprayer.....They drop dead.

rodeojoe · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cut some mesh or screen that you can secure over those openings. Then they won't be closed up but they won't leave an opening large enough for anything to get in there.

ticat900 · RV-Dreams Family Member

AKA stink bugs

LandL · RV-Dreams Community Member

GOSH! It really is like camping, isn't it? I'm trying not to freak out about bugs/mice etc etc etc. Silly me....not taking this into consideration. Are pests a REAL problem out there? biggrin

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm really scared regarding the stink bugs.... we've been parked for 8 months now, and will be (finally!) moving in about 2 weeks. I heard that the stink bugs can lay eggs or park themselves everywhere, including by the seals of the slides, so that when we close the slides, we will be inundated with them. We haven't closed the slides in all this time, so I'm really worried about what we will find when we close the slides and open them once again. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do in advance to prevent this. Such is the lifestyle.