A Nightmare Called Elm Seed

Well folks, it looks like the borders of our great nation were finally breached for the first time by a new emergent pest from Europe. If you haven’t read about it in the news already, let us be the first to highlight the details for you. The nuisance known as the Elm Seed Bug is famous all over Europe for its ability to quickly invade a dwelling and persist through winters and summers alike. The bug was just found in Idaho this week, and marks the first spotting of this insect on North American soil. You can be sure this won’t be the last time they start invading neighborhoods in the U.S., and definitely count on them spreading to other areas of the nation in the next few years.

The Elm Seed Bug is an elongated roach-like insect that travels in a swarm with its colony. They have a characteristic sideways triangle on each wing, and are dark brown in color. During the summer months, they are known to escape the heat by seeking refuge in sheds, garages, and homes. They become a nuisance fairly quickly, as they seem to always inhabit buildings in swarms and can be very difficult to remove from an inhabited location. Once they settle into a building, if left to breed, they can stay for months through a summer, and even longer through the following winter to escape the cold. They persist through seasons, and also leave behind an acrid smell when squashed.

If spotted, be sure to contact the department of agriculture to have an expert confirm the findings, and keep all dwellings secured on your property by maintaining walls and opening to keep unwanted guests from entering and setting up nests.