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Another Boxelder Question
I’m shocked to find you advocating the extermination (via a mild solution of detergent and water) of Boxelders without explaining WHY they should be killed. This is even more surprising after reading your reactions to all the carnage photos sent to you. For some reason, the poor little (seemingly) harmless Boxelder just isn’t a worthy creature. I think I’ve read through all the postings regarding Boxelders and I haven’t found (unless I missed it) a good reason for killing them. Please enlighten me. Though I don’t think another photo is needed, I’ve attached one. (Sorry I couldn’t get him to smile…)
Dan

Hi Dan,
Your letter has given us pause to think about this. Here is what BugGuide has to say: “Adults take plant juices from maples, fruit trees, sometimes nectar. Nymphs feed on seeds, also dead insects, sometimes cannibalize other nymphs as they molt. ” and “Considered a nuisance when it invades houses. Not an economically important pest, as its main food source (Boxelder) has little or no commercial value.” So, Boxelder Bugs are a nuisance, but are not a particular threat. We should perhaps revisit our advise on how to control them. We have never endorsed wholesale extermination of the species. People whose lives are impacted by population explosions of Boxelder Bugs, especially when they invade the home, might want a environmentally safe means of control. Though we tolerate insects in our home, we would not want to be invaded by 1000’s of Boxelder Bugs, and if that happened, we might resort to some means of control. Once again, for clarification, we have never endorsed wholesale extermination, but perhaps our advice to use soapy water should be reserved for otherwise uncontrollable numbers.

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