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Western conifer seed bug

Leptoglossus

Description:

The average length is 16-20 millimeters, with males being smaller than females. They are able to fly, making a buzzing noise when airborne. Western conifer seed bugs are somewhat similar in appearance to the wheel bug (Arilus cristatus) and other Reduviidae (assassin bugs). These, being Cimicomorpha, are not very closely related to leaf-footed bugs as Heteroptera go; though both have a proboscis, but only the assassin bugs bite even if unprovoked, and L. occidentalis like its closest relatives can be most easily recognized by the expanded hindleg tibiae and by the alternating light and dark bands which run along the outer wing edges on the flaring sides of the abdomen. Their primary defense is to spray a bitter, offending smell, though sometimes they can smell pleasantly of apples or pine sap; however, if handled roughly they will stab with their proboscis, though they are hardly able to cause injury to humans as it is adapted only to suck plant sap and not, as in the assassin bugs, to inject poison.

Habitat:

This insect is common in its native range along the temperate and warmer regions of the Pacific coast of North America and has steadily expanded eastwards. On its native continent, L. occidentalis has been located as far northeast as Maine.A popular nickname given to the bug in Ohio is the walky bug, due to the slow and steady way it walks. It has also been known as the flick bug, from the method some people use for removing an annoying individual. In Europe this species was first reported in 1999 from northern Italy; it had probably been accidentally imported with timber and as it seems more than once, as its presence was subsequently reported from that country almost simultaneously from locations a considerable distance apart. By 2007, it had established itself in the northern Balkans (Slovenia and Croatia), the Alps (Austria, Switzerland), and parts of the Czech Republic, France, Germany and Hungary; in 2003 it was found to occur in Spain though this population probably derives from a separate introduction. The 2007 records from Weymouth College (England) and Oostende (Belgium) might also represent one or two further independent introductions. In late 2007, it was found at Wrocław and Miechów (Poland); these animals probably represent a further range expansion out of the Czech Republic. During the autumn of 2008, a large influx of this species arrived on the south coast of England, indicating natural immigration from continental Europe. In late 2009, a large group of western conifer seed bug invaded Koç University in Istanbul, Turkey.

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2 Comments

LucBertrand
LucBertrand 12 years ago

thank you very much MickGrant :)

MickGrant
MickGrant 12 years ago

Good photo and excellent detail. Any references on this bug?

LucBertrand
Spotted by
LucBertrand

Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

Spotted on Sep 29, 2011
Submitted on Sep 29, 2011

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