The Box Elder...man I hate this bug

[slayer34ny]

Okay so I have had mites...lady bugs....and arachnids....as I am sure you all have seen. But this bug is such a nucience. The BOX ELDER is a disgusting bug wth no natural know enemies. I have no idea how they came to show up in my grow room. A female box elder tree in neiborhood....cant find one. In the sealed bag of soil I bought to start my babies........I think not. I have no idea how they showed up, but I have a few questions and only ONE good solution.

Questions:

1) How and from where did they magiclly show up.
2) Without using pestacides...is there anything to keep them out (i.e. - electronic?)
3) Are there ANY dangers to my plants.
4) Do they only come indoors in winter like I have heard.

Answers:

1) How to kill them....soapy water. One good spray they die in seconds.

2) They seem to only be atracted to the light and heat. Havent eaten any foliage.

3) They are VERY ugly....and I hate them sooooo much.

Any suggestions, stories or answers would be much appreciated.



Once all of your wishes have been granted.....many of your dreams will be destroyed.

[slayer34ny]

Ugly lil bastards

[Help_Needed]

Yeah, I get them in my grow room from time to time, as well as the rest of the house. They're pretty harmless. If I find them on one of my plants I just pick them off and throw them out the door.

If my dog find them, he eats them :D.

[Mississippi Steve]

Those are tree roaches....I have a problem with them too. I have found that if I put *real* duct tape, with the sticky side out around the box I have my plants sitting on, they get stuck like it was flypaper. They almost destroyed my first couple of seedlings until I figured out what was eating them. Since I did the duct tape trick, I have caught 6 of the damn things and have not had anymore plant problems.

[Help_Needed]

They almost destroyed my first couple of seedlings until I figured out what was eating them.

You sure they eat plants? I've had them in my grow room before and I've never seen a lick of bug type damage on any of my plants. Maybe I've just been lucky?

[slayer34ny]

It is deff a Box Elder....and no it doesent eat the plant at all....and as far as anything eating it....no way...terrable smell and taste (this aint fear factor I didnt try, just heard) They have red spots on its back and are a black/brown collow....very similar to a milkweed bug. Their spring food source is the female Box Elder tree....but I have none around my neiborhood. The plant is acctually banned in some states.

I have found a waxy looking rez on some leaves before i eliminated the majority of the bastards (carpet cleaning...wall soaping and rinsing....and the water/soap bottle assasin shoting em down where I saw em) and it still concerns me as to what they are doing when they are around my plants. All research says they dont reproduce indoors. So no nesting to worry about.

Anyone had any known BOX ELDER damage?