ladybug taint
n.— «There’s even a name for it—“ladybug taint.” The smell, which connotes green bell peppers or roasted peanuts, is produced by ladybugs as a defense mechanism. The chemicals they release, in a class of compounds called methoxypyrazines, are found in other animals and plants,» —“Not So Cute: New study shows that ladybugs produce a foul odor that is being found in wines” Winston-Salem Journal (North Carolina) Apr. 3, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
An old Irish curse goes: May the devil make a ladder of your backbones while picking apples in the garden of hell. If you’d rather offer someone a friendlier wish, try May angels bless your sleep with the smell of apple pies. This is part of a...
National Book Award winner Barry Lopez had wise advice for young writers. First, read widely and follow your curiosity. Second, travel or learn a foreign language. And third, find out what you truly believe, because if you’re not writing from...