Insects in the News

Photo provided by the Idaho State department of Ag.

Another invasive insect has been detected in the United States recently. The elm seed bug has been found in southwestern Idaho and although it is not a threat to trees, it often enters buildings in large numbers. This new invasive insect adds to the growing list of insects which find their way into our homes. Other insects that are known to get into homes and cause a nuisance are the multicolored Asian lady beetle and the brown marmorated stink bug. The elm seed bug gets into homes during the summer to escape the heat and stays there throughout the winter. These insects are not a health risk, but they can have an unpleasant odor, and also can enter homes by the hundreds causing serious distress for homeowners. The native range of the elm seed bug is southern Europe and the mechanism of their arrival is still unknown.

While there have been no reports of this insect in Ohio, the Department of Agriculture has recived calls from people claiming to see the bug in South Carolina, West Virginia, Illinois, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Montana, Nevada, Connecticut, California, Michigan, Washington, and Oregon.

Be on the look out for these bugs, and keep in mind that there is another home invader that looks similar, the boxelder bug. (Fact sheet with info about boxelder bugs)

Sources: Washington Post article, ABC News article