Wrinkly Bits
A Blog by Gail Cushman
Originally posted 10/22/25
I’ve had it with the Box Elder bugs. The collaborative term for these pests is Nuisance which is appropriate, but they think they are Montana’s State Bug and, in my book, have worn out their welcome after their month-long invasion . The Montana State bug is the mourning cloak butterfly, and my question is, why or why do we have a State Bug, anyway? And why doesn’t this pretty butterfly bring its beauty and grace to Columbus MT.
I’ve written about box elder bugs before and was told to get rid of my box elder trees, but we don’t have box elder trees. We have cottonwoods and various pine and fir trees. The bugs seem to have settled in on our house and lie in wait until we open the door. Cody goes out and they stream in. Then the battle begins between me and the pesky pests. I have eight bug swatters and recently qualified as a sharp-swatter, but they are about to get the best of me.
So what’s the answer? Bug spray? Cowboy says no, but he’s about to overridden. Dr. Google says Mice… are you kidding. Not on my watch. Robins, too, but they went south for the winter, so they’re out.
I’ve been puzzling about what to do: It’s a win-win solution. We take a cruise. We should take a month-long cruise at the first sight of one of these pests. Too late for this year, but it’s on my mind for 2026! Enough already.
