Western+Conifer+Seed+Bug+-+Leptoglossus+occidentalis

The Western Conifer Seed Bug, //Leptoglossus occidentalis,// is a true bug in the family Coreidae native to western North America. The bug has steadily expanded its range eastward, with specimens recorded as far east as Nova Scotia. Since the late 1990's this species spread to Europe, becoming an invasive best in conifer forests and plantations. Individuals have been found across the globe from Tunisia and Turkey to Japan. In Vermont, this large bug is often found indoors come fall when adults are seeking warm places to overwinter.

Adults bugs are easily recognizable by their large size - up to an inch long - and expanded leaf-like phalanges on their tibial leg segments. Adults also have alternating dark and light stripes down the sides of their abdomen and orange tips to their dark antennae. Native to warmer temperate conifer forests along the Pacific coast of North America from Canada to Mexico, Western Conifer Seed Bugs are now common across the continent, feeding on native conifers like Eastern White Pine and becoming a minor pest in conifer plantations and tree farms.

In Vermont, this bug is most often encountered during the first few brisk days of autumn, when adults enter homes through open windows or poorly sealed openings seeking a warm place to over winter. Occasionally they will congregate in large numbers, becoming a serious nuisance. Studies have shown seed bugs are even capable of chewing through and damaging plastic piping in homes. Seed bugs are often confused as stinkbugs (Family Pentatomidae) because of their tendency to spray a noxious, potent-smelling liquid when handled or disturbed. Though largely harmless, seed bugs will stab their proboscis when disturbed, though this inflicts only a small amount of pain.

Sources:

Bates, S.L. 2005. Damage to common plumbing materials caused by overwintering //Leptoglossus occidentalis// (Hemiptera: Coreidae). Canadian Entomologist 137: 492-496.

Blatt, S. E. 1994. An unusually large aggregation of the western conifer seed bug, //Leptoglossus occidentalis// (Hemiptera: Coreidae), in a man-made structure. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia 91:71-72.

Jerzy A. Lis, Barbara Lis & Jerzy Gubernator (2008). "Will the invasive western conifer seed bug //Leptoglossus occidentalis// Heidemann (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae) seize all of Europe?" . //Zootaxa// 1740: 66–68**.**

Links:

http://www.guelphlabservices.com/files/PDC/070WesternConiferSeedBug.pdf

Page by Matt Cahill

