Elm Seed Bugs
Arocatus melanocephalus
Elm seed bugs are small, oval insects with dark brown/black bodies and distinctive rust-red edges on their wings. They have a triangular plate on their back and red-brown legs. Often confused with box...
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How to Identify Elm Seed Bugs
Elm seed bugs are small, oval insects with dark brown/black bodies and distinctive rust-red edges on their wings. They have a triangular plate on their back and red-brown legs.
Elm seed bugs are small, oval insects with dark brown/black bodies and distinctive rust-red edges on their wings. They have a triangular plate on their back and red-brown legs. Often confused with box elder bugs but smaller with different coloring pattern.
Elm Seed Bugs Behavior & Habits
Understanding how elm seed bugs behave helps prevent infestations
Elm seed bugs feed on elm tree seeds in spring and summer. In late summer and fall, they seek shelter in homes by the thousands. They congregate on sunny, south-facing walls before entering through any small gap. They don't reproduce indoors but can persist until spring.
Elm Seed Bugs Risks & Dangers
What elm seed bugs can do to your health and property
Health Risks
Elm seed bugs don't bite, sting, or transmit diseases. They emit a mildly unpleasant odor when crushed or disturbed—similar to but milder than stink bugs.
Property Damage
No structural damage. They're a nuisance pest only, though extreme numbers can stain surfaces with their droppings and crushed bodies leave rusty-red stains.
Signs of Elm Seed Bugs Infestation
Look for these indicators in your home
Elm Seed Bugs in Boise & the Treasure Valley
Elm seed bugs arrived in Idaho around 2012 and have become one of the most complained-about pests in the Boise area. Areas with mature elm trees (North End, Boise Bench, parts of Meridian and Eagle) experience the heaviest infestations. August through October is peak invasion season.
How We Eliminate Elm Seed Bugs
Professional treatment for complete elimination
Elm seed bug control focuses on exclusion and perimeter treatment before fall migration. We seal entry points, apply residual barriers to exterior walls, and treat around windows and doors. Interior treatment removes existing populations. Fall timing is critical for effective prevention.
How to Prevent Elm Seed Bugs
Steps you can take to reduce the risk of infestation
Elm Seed Bugs Questions Answered
Common questions about identification, prevention, and treatment
Why are there so many elm seed bugs in Boise?
Boise has extensive mature elm tree populations, particularly Siberian elms. Elm seed bugs arrived in Idaho around 2012 and found ideal conditions. Our hot summers and abundant elm seeds support huge populations.
Will removing elm trees stop the bugs?
Not necessarily. Elm seed bugs can fly significant distances and feed on seeds from neighboring trees. Exclusion (sealing entry points) is more practical than tree removal for most homeowners.
Why do they invade homes?
Like box elder bugs, elm seed bugs seek warm shelter to overwinter. They're attracted to heat from south-facing walls and enter through tiny gaps. They don't reproduce inside—they're just taking shelter.
Similar Pests
Learn about other pests in this category