Are Boxelder Bugs Worse in Sheridan Than in Nearby Cities?
Those little red-and-black beetles that swarm the sunny walls, slip in through the window joints, and gather by the hundreds during hot autumn afternoons. Boxelder bugs are more than just an annoyance when they invade your home, leaving stains on your curtains and lurking in your living spaces.
At certain times of year, this scenario feels especially charged in Sheridan, leading homeowners to question whether their neighborhood is worse off than those around it. Our mature tree canopy and residential layout provide ample reasons for these nuisances to persist. When the infestation seems excessive, you can hire pest control experts to regain complete control of your parlor and prevent new invasions. Professional help is important to get rid of pests in Sheridan.
Boxelder Bugs In Sheridan vs Nearby Cities – Which Is Worse?
The boxelder bug problem in Sheridan is much worse than in most surrounding communities, and for good reason. Several neighborhoods of the city also have established stands of boxelder and maple trees, which the insects primarily use as a food source. Englewood and Littleton experience the same, but Sheridan has just the correct number of trees to make it a prime spot.
Local pest control data indicate that boxelder bugs on Sheridan properties are 30-40% more active than in newer developments in Aurora or Commerce City, where younger trees have yet to mature into a habitat that can support this many boxelder bugs. With many of the homes in Sheridan built in the 1960s and 70s, the older housing stock creates more entry points through aging seals and cracks, and provides easier conditions for infestation once those bugs are in.
What Attracts Them in Sheridan?
The main attraction is the abundance of female boxelder and maple trees, mostly along residential streets and in backyards. During spring and summer, these trees serve as a food source and breeding ground. Boxelder bugs are looking for a warm spot to go when it cools down in the fall, and a home with southern-facing warm walls takes the cake.
The sunny side of your house serves as a gathering place for hundreds of bugs gearing up for winter. A city located where the plains meet the foothills creates plenty of microclimates, but Denver still benefits from relatively mild conditions that are high enough to keep it thriving. Windows, doors, and foundation cracks allow small openings that bugs use to easily get indoors, where they overwinter in wall voids and attics.
Steps You Can Take to Get Rid Of Them
So acting fast can prevent small numbers from becoming an infestation. Here are steps Sheridan homeowners can take:
- Seal entry points – Check for cracks in the exterior of your home around windows, doors, utility lines, and the foundation. Seal these gaps with some good caulk and weatherstripping before fall rolls around.
- Remove host trees – If you have a female boxelder tree on your property, either remove it or prune any branches that touch the exterior of your home.
- Vacuum regularly – Whenever bugs enter indoors, vacuum them instead of crushing them, which can leave stains.
- Apply exterior treatment – In early fall, spray soapy water or a suitable insecticide on congregation sites to prevent them from reducing populations prior to entry.
Seek Professional Help!
Persistent boxelder bug problem requires a little more than stale in-season DIY methods. Saela Pest Control has been helping homeowners in Sheridan for years, so we know the unique challenges of the area, including tree cover, housing characteristics, and heat accumulation. Providing solutions for current infestations and for prevention in future seasons. Instead of waging the same war each autumn, professional assistance delivers effective, long-lasting solutions tailored to Sheridan’s unique pest challenges.
