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  • Western conifer seed bug Miscellaneous

    Western conifer seed bug
  • Western conifer seed bug
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Elimination

To prevent Western conifer seed bugs from infiltrating your house in the fall, you should seal the cracks in and around your doors, windows, siding, pipes, and electric cables. If effective sealing is impossible and you can’t stand having them in your home, you can apply Maheu&Maheu Insecticide Dust to cracks and gaps and under your siding.

Actions

  • Spray or treat entry points on the outside walls of the house with an insecticide labeled for this use
  • Spray or treat the perimeters of rooms and around window frames with an insecticide

Prevention

  • Seal the outsides of windows, doors, eaves, chimneys, etc. as completely as possible.

Description and development

The Western conifer seed bug Leptoglossus occidentalis is a hemipteran insect belonging to the Coreidae family. It is easy to recognize by its wide, leaf-shaped hind legs. Its brownish body can easily reach 20 mm in length and can emit an unpleasant odor when disturbed. The insect is native to west of the Rockies. Since the end of the twentieth century, it has spread to North America’s eastern coast.
Toward the end of spring, females lay their eggs on needles of various coniferous species. After hatching, larvae pierce developing needles and cones with their special mouthparts to feed. In August, larvae reach adulthood and start seeking places to spend the winter. This species only produces one generation a year.

Habits

Like Asian lady beetles, Western conifer seed bugs can make their way into houses in large numbers to spend the winter when temperatures drop. And although they are harmless and pose no threat to house structures, they can be quite bothersome.

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