Maple Bug Control Calgary

If you live in Calgary, you've almost certainly encountered maple bugs — even if you didn't know what to call them. These are the black, red-marked insects that appear by the hundreds on the sunny south-facing walls of homes each September and October, then find their way indoors through every available crack and gap. In Calgary, "maple bugs" is the everyday name for what entomologists call boxelder bugs (Boisea trivittata). The local name comes from the bug's primary food source: Manitoba maple trees, which are the most commonly planted maple in Calgary and are known interchangeably as boxelder maples.

Calgary's relationship with maple bugs is a direct result of the city's urban forest. Manitoba maples were planted extensively throughout Calgary's older neighbourhoods because they grow quickly, tolerate cold winters, and provide dense shade. The trees produce winged seeds called samaras that maple bugs feed on throughout the summer. By late August, the bug population peaks, and as days shorten and nights cool, the adults begin seeking overwintering sites. Your home's warm, sunlit walls are the perfect staging area, and from there, the bugs find their way inside through gaps around windows, doors, vents, and siding — gaps as small as an eighth of an inch are enough.

Once inside, maple bugs settle into wall voids, attics, and other protected spaces and remain largely dormant until spring. On warm winter days, many become active and emerge into living spaces — often clustering around windows and light fixtures where homeowners notice them. While they don't bite, sting, or cause structural damage, they're a persistent nuisance. They stain surfaces with droppings and release a pungent, orange-colored liquid when disturbed that can discolor curtains, walls, and upholstery. For Calgary homeowners in neighbourhoods with mature Manitoba maples — Inglewood, Bridgeland, Mount Royal, Beltline, Kensington, Marda Loop, and many others — maple bug invasions are a yearly event that professional treatment can effectively stop. Calgary Pest Guard provides timed exterior perimeter treatments in late August and September, entry point sealing, and interior treatment for homes where bugs have already entered. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee means if maple bugs return after treatment, we come back at no additional cost.