Seed bugs loved to munch on coniferous plants, but a research report set the cat among the pigeons by claiming they bite humans too. So, do seed bugs bite? We explore this in the article below.
No, seed bugs do not bite. But one case was reported in a research journal of a seed bug biting a human, which was the first and probably the last reported case!
Most entomologists believe that it was an accidental biting or that the authors of the journal mistook a wasp for a seed bug.
What Are Seed Bugs?
Seed Bugs (scientifically named Leptoglossus Occidentalis) were first discovered in Michigan in 1987 but have since moved to many other states.
These bugs feed on the seeds of coniferous trees (hence the name) and the tissue of their cone cells.
In the adult form, these bugs measure a little less than an inch in length. They are brown on top, while their abdomen is yellow or orange colored with black patches.
The most distinguishing feature of these bugs is the noise they make while flying, which sounds very similar to that of a bumble bee.
Can Seed Bugs Bite Humans?
As we mentioned in the introduction, seed bugs don’t bite, except for the solitary insect bite report in a single scientific journal.
Entomologists largely concur that these bugs don’t bite. But whatever we have written below is based on that report.
What Does The Bite Look Like?
Seed bugs like feeding on plants and seeds rather than sucking blood which is obvious from their name. Only only one case of accidental biting by a seed bug.
The report said a lesion appeared on the skin, lasting for 48 hours. The skin around the area remained red for about a month.
What To Do if You Get Bitten?
There isn’t any proven method to treat a seed bug bite because it almost never happens. You can follow the general treatment for bug bites.
For instance, you can apply an ice pack to soothe the region or use an anti-itch cream or doodling gel on the lesion.
Are They Poisonous?
No, seed bugs are not poisonous to humans. They feed only on plant seeds and not on animal skin or their blood (technically termed phytophagous).
In the one case of seed bug bite so far, there was no poisonous reaction reported. We can safely assume that these bugs are in no way dangerous to humans.
Are They Harmful In Other Ways?
Yes, they could become a nuisance pest because of their rather bad stink. These bugs have a defense mechanism that yields a foul odor when attacked.
You might startle the bug accidentally, or it might just perceive you as a threat due to your size and release a stink bomb on you.
During cold weather, these seed bugs might move into your home in large numbers, creating a big problem with their stink bombs.
How Can You Prevent Them From Coming Inside Your Home?
Seed Bugs can enter your house through open windows and doors and hide in the cracks and grooves of your house.
So, to prevent them from coming inside your house, you should seal all the gaps in the window panes and fill the cracks with sealing clay or tape.
You can also regularly spray insecticides in your house to check the population of insects growing inside and outside your house.
Chemical insecticides are not suitable for a house with pets and children, so it would be best if you use natural insecticides such as neem oil to keep the seed bugs away.
Alternatively, you can spray pesticides on the perimeter of your house. Make sure to follow the instructions on the packaging to know the frequency at which to spray.
Vacuuming a bunch of seed bugs is another easy way to remove these rather slow-paced bugs. Just suck them up and throw the bag outside near a coniferous tree.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can stink bugs bite?
No, stink bugs do not bite either humans or their pets. Despite the rather foul odor they emit, they cause no harm to you or your surroundings.
They release certain substances which can be potentially dangerous and can cause allergies in some people.
Is there a bug that looks like a seed?
There are a few bugs that can be mistaken for a seed. For example, a flea beetle looks like a 10-inch long black seed from a distance or until you poke it.
Another great example is rice weevils that look like small black seeds in a jar of rice while it’s actually a bug.
What do you do with Western conifer seed bugs?
To get rid of western conifer seed bugs, you can try spraying chemical or natural insecticides along the affected area at regular intervals.
You can also spray pesticides on the outside walls of your house. Seal all the cracks and gaps in between your window panes to prevent their entry inside your house.
Are there western conifer seed bugs in Utah?
Western conifer seed bugs are largely concentrated in North America in the British Columbia region. However, recently they have been spotted in Utah as well. They mostly inhabit rodent nests and electrical outlets and feed on cones of Douglas firs.
Wrap Up
Seed bugs are leaf-footed bugs that can become nuisance pests and enter your house through wall vents in the winter.
They won’t harm you or bite you, but they can stink up your home. In the solitary case of accidental biting, it caused lesions that lasted for one to two days.
Thanks for reading!
21 Comments. Leave new
Hey there, there’s another thing I remembered after talking to someone about it. It’s a behavioural thing.
These bugs generally travel in pairs, though not in the images I sent in. There’s this really strange thing they tend to do, though. They like… Link, I guess. They move around with one bug kind of connected to the back of the other bug and move around as a joint pair. It’s kind of bizarre to see.
I’ll go out again later today and see if I can snap some photos of it, and I’ll put them up here.
This is very true. In fact this seems to be their favoured mode of travel in Albury, N.S.W , Australia.
A little late, but here are those photos I promised.
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/2123/dsc00225.jpg
http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/2820/dsc00226b.jpg
They’re kinda blurry because the bugs run pretty damn fast once you get near them. I’m not sure if they physically link or just stay very close together, but when they do this they walk around as though they’re one bug. It’s strange to see.
Well, that’s about it.
Thanks for the ID, Karl.
Hi Tom: Your bugs are linked for mating. Sex is often a very long process in the insect world and they can’t always afford to be sedentary until they are done. Hence, linked butterflies and dragonflies will fly and bugs will run. Here is another link to a photo similar to yours. Regards. Karl.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildernesscam/3078062109/
Thanks Karl,
Somehow we failed to address the mating information.
Maybe it’s some sort of cicada nymph?
This is not a Cicada Nymph, but True Bugs and Cicadas are in the same insect order so they have some physical similarities.
How do I get rid of these bugs from my garden?
We do not provide extermination advice.
Swarms of love bugs intent to mate, in central Florida, in the spring and summer. They do not bite, they land on you, slow moving, they are attracted to white. Brushing them away agitates a swarm to come at you. Very disgusting insect. Do not think birds are interested in them. A rumor was that they are genetically modified critters.
We have numerous Love Bug postings on our site where this comment would have been more appropriate.
These are Dindymus versicolor, commonly called Harlequin Bugs. They’re quite common around eastern Australia in the spring and summer. Hope this helps!
Thanks so much for the identification. We will locate some links and update the posting.
Lygaeus creticus
Has anyone ever reported being bitten by a seed bug? I’ve heard they can if they’re deydrated, even tho it’s rare. Ever since they showed up inside (we’re in Carefree, Arizona right next to a desert wash), I’ve had a few bites that we thought were just mosquitos, but they were extremely itchy and have developed into significant allergic dermatitis on both arms and ankles for weeks now, not responding to treatment. Still seeing a few of the beetles in the house some evenings, sometimes crawling on me. Thanks for any input!
Hi,I grew up in Cooma in the 60’s. Saw these bugs all the time – they were very common. I thought the reason their bottoms were joined was because they were newly hatched beetles hadn’t separated from a sibling. I think i separated some thinking I was doing them a favour. Young minds ! I have been living 110km north of Cooma practically ever since. I may have seen one or twoof those beetles in that time. We called them harlequin bugs then, but googling that does not bring them up.
We live on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria and they have all but destroyed hollyhocks, a few amongst ground cover violets and possibly in a young callistimon where one in three bushes was savagely eaten.
I used pyrethrum spray to send them on their way.
I live in Hamilton vic. There are thousands of them breeding here. They come in my house under door cracks they somehow get up my clothes line and into my washing ANNOYING PESTS
From Albury. Have found them on the trunk of a ten year old Brachychiton trilobus that has just thrown seed for the first time.
Not on B. acerifolius, nor B.populneus or B.rupestris
Hi Christiaan, we are in wodonga and have just noticed a ton of these all over our natives and getting closer to our veg garden , any tips on getting rid of them ?
I’m from Melbourne. I have been noticing these bugs since long time around here in my garden. I didn’t know that they were causing any type of harm to my veggie garden but I failed to get good size of strawberries from my garden then I come to know that these notorious bugs were sucking their juice. I started spraying homemade insecticidal soap on them which is very effective. I can see noticeable fall in their population in my garden.