Any suggestions for getting rid of box elder bugs?

[Kookaburra]

They've taken over my back yard (my neighbor has those box elder bushes and refuses to cut them down). Anyway, you can't take a step without crushing one of them, and while I'm pretty sure they're harmless -- don't sting or bite, and don't really like to come in the house (lest they become cat toys) -- they really are a nuisance. They're all over everything.

I do not like to kill things -- even bugs -- so if you have any suggestions for making them move on to the woods or something, that would be helpful. I looked around on the internet, and all the sites suggest killing them, and I don't want to do that.

Thanks in advance.

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. I'll bite, because I'm the guy who always has a LINK?

:rofl:

I was inspired to google "Banish box elder bugs" and got hits.

Citronella oil is mentioned; I didn't look at the results. Hope it helps!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=banishing+box+elder+bugs&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

[sybster1000]

2. I had an infestation once

I had 2 big maples in my front yard in my old house and they were everywhere!! Try to get rid of them before they get into your house. I had them buzzing around everywhere in the house...and they love screen windows. I probably cleaned out hundreds when they finally died. I used some kind of natural pesticide but really the only thing that really stopped them was winter because i tried to ignore it. Their babies look like red mites. I would treat these "nurseries" first...Sorry for the downer answer:-(

[Kookaburra]

3. Thanks for the advice, y'all

I'm afraid I may have to resort to insecticide. It really hurts my heart to kill anything, so I'm going to start by clearing out all the mulch around the shrubs and really getting it "cleaned up" out in the yard. Maybe if they don't have a place to go at night they'll just fly away someplace else.

The good news is they haven't come in the house yet. All still outside.