INSECT CONTROL RECIPE
Box Elder Bugs
A simple soapy-water spray knocks out box elder bugs on contact — useful for the sun-warmed walls and windowsills where they like to gather.
Prep: 5 minutes
Yields: about 1 quart
Organic-friendly
Ingredients
1 quart water
2 tablespoons liquid dish soap
Spray bottle
Instructions
1
Mix the water and dish soap together in a spray bottle.
2
Spray directly onto clusters of box elder bugs on siding, windowsills, or foundation walls.
3
Sweep or vacuum up the bugs once they’ve stopped moving.
4
Seal cracks and gaps around windows and doors to keep new bugs from getting inside as fall arrives.
Tip: Spray in the cool of morning or evening — box elder bugs cluster in the sun to warm up, and they're easier to hit while still sluggish.
