Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- You may have seen masses of red and black bugs around and even inside your home that you don’t normally notice.
Entomologists from SUNY ESF say they’ve already gotten a lot of inquiries about the bugs, which are called boxelder bugs. They’re known to congregate in large masses on boxelder trees, on sidewalks, in garages and in homes.
Entomologists say the unusually mild winter in Central New York didn’t kill off as many of the bugs, so they expect a bumper crop of them this year. The bugs aren’t harmful to people and aren’t known to cause damage to structures, but they can infest homes and buildings by the thousands.
If you see any of the bugs around your home, sealing cracks around windows, doors and other openings will prevent an infestation. If they’re already in your home, you’ll likely need to use an insecticide that is safe for indoor use.
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