TRI-CITIES, Wash. – As summer arrives, residents in Southeast Washington may notice an increase in boxelder bugs. They are oval-shaped black bugs with hints of red on their back.
Gwen Hoheisel from Washington State University said the bugs are common in Washington and there’s no cause for concern.
“So most of the time they’re a pest to people because they come in such large numbers,” Hoheisel said. “But there’s nothing that would structurally damage a house. There’s nothing that would sting a person.”
Boxelder bugs do not contribute to pollination or pest control but serve as a food source for other animals. They typically emerge in spring to lay eggs, and once hatched, the nymphs feed on plants until they mature in late summer.
“They are not beneficial and they’re not necessarily considered a pest,” Hoheisel said. “And they feed on leaves and, sometimes flowers and so forth, but almost never at a number that is going to completely wipe out a home garden.”
If these bugs enter a home, they can be squished, but it may release a strong odor. Hoheisel reassured pet owners that it is safe for pets to eat these bugs, though they may find them unpalatable.
“WSU doesn’t even recommend chemical control,” Hoheisel said. “Vacuum them up and then dispose of that bag if you think that it smells bad.”
