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I have been seeing these bugs in the house for a couple of years. They seem to come out in fall. I have tried to research this and as far as I can tell, this is either a shield bug/stink bug, or a wood borer. Do I need to worry about these guys? I do not find too many but maybe a couple a week. Thanks for the help, great website.
Chris Sihpol

Hi Chris,
Your letter and humorous image could not be more timely. A mere three hours earlier today, we got a request from Ann of The Boston Globe (see below) regarding information we could provide on the Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis. The Western Conifer Seed Bug is a True Bug in the order Hemiptera. The family is the Leaf Footed Bugs or Big Legged Bugs, Coreidae. Technically, they are not Stink Bugs, though they do give off a pungent odor if handled. Like many other Hemipterans, including Stink Bugs and Boxelder Bugs, the Western Conifer Seed Bug will enter homes in the fall to escape the cold, sometimes hibernating until spring. This tends to be a source of annoyment for many homemakers and is the reason for much of the publicity these insects generate. There is a wealth of information on the internet, including the PennState entomology site. The Western Conifer Seed Bug is native to the Pacific Northwest, but its range has been increasing in the east, perhaps due to global warming though interstate commerce is also a contributing factor. The Cornell Cooperative Extension claims: “This species was first described in 1910 from California”. BugGuide does not list any submissions from California on its map, but it does include the amusing disclaimer: “The following data is based on images submitted and identified by contributors. Range and date information may be incomplete, overinclusive, or just plain wrong.” We here at What’s That Bug? have not observed an increase in queries regarding this species this year. In past years, we would receive many identification requests per week while this year we have only gotten two images.

(11/03/2006) Boston Globe Article
Hi Daniel:
I’m writing a humorous story about the stink bugs that invade New England homes this time of year (Leptoglossus occidentalis). I was just curious how frequently you hear about this bug at whatsthatbug, like top 5 or top 10 most asked about? Anything interesting, humorous or artful about Western Conifer I can quote you on? It is a Californian bug, after all. Deadline is imminent, so I’d appreciate hearing from you soon if you are able. Have any photos of it we could run? Thanks,
Ann

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