Odoriferous insect might be an elm seed bug

Q: For the last two years, my house in the near North Valley is infested this time of year with a small bug (about a ¼ inch long) that is dark-colored and seems to have wings. I haven’t seen them fly, but I’m guessing they can. They are both outside and inside the house. They seem to be able to get inside through very small cracks within window frames and screens. I don’t recommend “hand to wing” combat with them because they emit a very pungent odor when squeezed or squished. Can you tell what this bug is and if it is causing damage to the outside foliage? Thanks! — K.Z., Albuquerque

A: Like you, I lived in the near North Valley for a time and had a few of these interlopers show up in the house. Not many, but nonetheless stinky when squished. Up the street from the house were lots of elm trees, and I was taught that the stinky, wee bug was an elm beetle.

I type elm beetle into my search engine and wasn’t happy with that result, the coloration description did not match your description, and of the three sites I explored, none mentioned the pungent odor you spoke of. Working deeper, I found a site — University of Idaho Extension — that describes a bug called elm seed bugs, with mention of their remarkable odor.

The elm beetle is more mustard-colored as an adult and can do a bit of damage to elm tree leaves, especially if there are lots of them, at certain stages of its life, whereas the elm seed bug likes to eat, rather suck, on elm tree seeds.

My question to you is, are there several elm trees near or around your home? Granted, you could have either at different times of the year, but the smelly one is the elm seed bug. Who knew? Well, now I do!

So, the University of Idaho Extension site suggests that you do your best to collect and keep as many of those papery elm seeds gathered and disposed of as your first method of eradication. Fewer elm seeds for the elm seed bug to feast on, fewer in the long run. Understand that elm seed bugs “do not bite, sting or stain, nor do they feed on stored foods, houseplants, furniture, clothing, or building structures,” according to the University of Idaho Extension.

It’s strongly suggested to bug proof your home to keep the uninvited outside. Weatherstripping, repairing holes in screens and caulking will be one of the best defenses to keep the elm seed bug outside. If you do have a multitude indoors, it’s recommended using a wet/dry shop-vac to vacuum them up. Put a few inches of soapy water in the canister, so the collected bugs are effectively drowned. Don’t use your house vacuum because the whirring/sucking up would probably tear them up, and you’d then own a stinky house vacuum.

If you know which window is most visited by these guys, consider placing sticky traps so they get caught, and then all you have to do is pitch them when they get too disgusting.

Next, the site suggests applying a broad-spectrum insecticide as an outdoor barrier. It lists a bevy of pesticides that would work, but here’s a couple of the least lethal (so to speak). Permethrin, pyrethrin or carbaryl (Sevin) applied to manufacturer’s dilution (if you choose a concentrate) applied through a hose end sprayer, or a ready-to-use type. Apply a 3-foot band on the soil around the foundation of the home, and another band 2 feet up the walls. Be sure to get any vents, utility line entrances, windows and doors — making sure they are snugly closed before you spray and stay that way til the pesticide is dry.

If you don’t want to spray, at least aim to rake up and dispose of the paper elm seeds, as soon as possible, so the elm seed bug won’t want to hang at your house. With no free lunch, they’ll move on or die.

Hope this helps and Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.