Other than laundry detergent, how can I get rid of box elder bugs outside?

Question

I have tried the laundry soap, but it only kills one out of every ten. Ant spray works but it is expensive and stinky. I am sick of the bugs, but I do not want to cut my trees down.

Answer 1

Getting Rid of Boxelder Bugs in Your Yard

If you find boxelder bugs on walls or tree trunks and want to get rid of them, try using your garden hose. A forceful stream of water will wash them off and drown them.

You can also use boiling water to kill clusters of boxelder bugs. Remember boiling water can kill grass in your lawn or other desirable plants, so you need to be careful when you're using this technique.

Using Pesticides to Kill Boxelder Bugs

“Chemical controls are largely ineffective and unwarranted for this nuisance pest,” according to University of Vermont Extension.

Other extension services from around the country agree. Colorado State University Cooperative Extension describes household sprays as “temporary relief only.” “Insecticide sprays are generally not recommended for boxelder bug management,” writes the University of California Cooperative Extension. “They are often no more effective than vacuuming or hosing and repeated applications may be required.”


Conclusion

“Bear in mind that as bad as they are box elder bugs will only be around until the weather gets cold—so the best solution may be to ignore them until they go away,” wrote Oregon State University extension entomologist Jack DeAngelis.
Living with boxelder bugs may be the easiest and simplest solution you'll find.

Answer 2

I don't know what part of the country you're in but here in the Northeast we've had a lot of warm winters and the box elder bug population gets bad after a few successive warm winters.They over winter in the house or barns or anywhere they can and come out in the spring. I've lived here most of my life and never saw these bugs until a few years ago and now they're EVERYWHERE! Pesticides don't kill them, only boiling water or a strong spray from a hose to drown them. They don't harm anything so I guess we just live with it for now. They look a lot like milkweed bugs and I have a lot of milkweed too but I haven't seen those bugs around. I'm not planning on removing the elders but since they don't root very deeply and are self sowing weed trees I've had several fall over this year crushing my fences and gardens. If it's not one thing it's another! LOL