Avoid squishing maple bugs: City of Regina

As the fall approaches and the weather begins to get cooler, various bugs will be looking for a warm place to crash.

In many cases, those bugs find and use homes.

Regina’s manager of forestry, pest control and horticulture Russell Eirich specifically addressed maple bugs, saying the red and black, thumbnail size insect will, as one might expect, turn up in neighbourhoods with maple trees.

“The best control methods are sealing all the cracks and crevices on your homes,” he explained.

Eirich said there is an insecticide dust that homeowners can buy that will dry out the maple bugs. He said they can also be sucked up with a shop vac, then drowned.

What not to do?

“Don’t squish them. They’re very stinky, they’re very foul smelling. The other thing is that the residue from all that foul smelling will attract more maple bugs.”

“By squishing them, you’re actually doing yourself more of a disservice,” he added.