Boxelder bugs often become serious nuisance pests as they move into homes for shelter during fall. Problems are most severe along south and west sides of a home since the bugs tend to move into cracks and crevices in these sun warmed areas. 

Boxelder bugs develops during the warm months on seeds and other plant materials. The first generation usually feeds on seeds produced by boxelder or occasionally other maple or ash trees. Boxelder bugs sometimes feed on ground cover plants and some other plants but cause little damage. They also eat dead insects.