Insect id - Ask Extension
These insects are all over a shutter and portion of house; each one is about 1/2 long.
Knowledgebase
Insect id #860228
Asked March 01, 2024, 12:53 PM EST
These insects are all over a shutter and portion of house; each one is about 1/2 long.
Frederick County Maryland
Expert Response
Those are Boxelder Bugs, which are harmless native bugs that require no control.
Here is our page about them:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/boxelder-bugs/
Much like the brown marmorated stinkbug (which is not native), they overwinter in snug protected places like under bark or around our homes. On warm days they come out.
They are a minor nuisance and will hide again when it gets cold and disperse in the spring. They require no pesticides.
As always, it's recommended to seal up cracks around doors, windows, foundations and where wires/pipes come into the house with caulk or gasket material to stop any insects from coming indoors that way.
Christine
Here is our page about them:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/boxelder-bugs/
Much like the brown marmorated stinkbug (which is not native), they overwinter in snug protected places like under bark or around our homes. On warm days they come out.
They are a minor nuisance and will hide again when it gets cold and disperse in the spring. They require no pesticides.
As always, it's recommended to seal up cracks around doors, windows, foundations and where wires/pipes come into the house with caulk or gasket material to stop any insects from coming indoors that way.
Christine
