Western Conifer Seed Bug

Found primarily in forests and orchards containing coniferous trees; frequently enters homes and buildings in autumn to seek warmth and shelter for the winter.

Strictly herbivorous; it uses its piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap of developing cones and seeds of various coniferous trees like pine, Douglas-fir, and hemlock.

They are leaf-footed bugs known for the flattened, leaf-like expansions on their hind legs. They are most active in late summer and fall. When threatened or crushed, they emit a pungent, unpleasant odor as a defense mechanism.

They do not bite or sting humans and pose no health risks. They are considered a nuisance pest when they invade homes. While they can damage conifer seed crops in forestry, they serve as a food source for birds and small mammals in the ecosystem.