The Geek in Question
Flickr Photos
Want some Bug Geek swag? You’ve come to the right place!
The Bug Geek
Insects. Doing Science. Other awesome, geeky stuff.
Photo Friday: Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis
Posted by on March 23, 2012
Yesterday, my wife called for me to come upstairs: “Come see!”
This usually can be translated to mean: “There’s a bug up here for you!”, so I hustled up the stairs and found her pointing at a large, leggy shape lumbering across the carpet.
For a second, I was disappointed. What a cruel trick. “Ew. Spider.”
But then I got a little closer and realized it was something not at all icky spidery. It was a Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis), readily recognized by its lovely earthy colors and fancy hind feet.
Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis
These often come indoors to visit us, presumably to avoid bad weather (silly thing, it’s so lovely out right now!). Weather permitting, we always escort them back outside. I released this guy on a branch of our cherry tree in the back yard. He hung out there for a few minutes before flying off, all gangly legs and buzzing wings, toward the stand of white pine on the other side of the fence.
Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis
Yes I get calls at all hours of the night when a Polyphylla decemlineata or Lucanus mazama (both incredibly common in the summer months where i live) flies to their porch lights, hahaha! cruel trick 😀 oh my, patience with non-entomologists can lead to success at times, which is pretty much the reason why i have it 😉 nice post.
Well, I guess it’s a matter of perspective – I just googled those two species and was all, “Oooooh, SHINY!” I’ve never seen either one, and would probably get super geeked-out over them 🙂
I don’t know if you could use any, but there are more than i know what to do with…? 😀
Aww, what’s wrong with spiders?
Still, really cool bug! Looks kind of like a wheel bug. Love the legs!
Nothing (much) is wrong with spiders (as long as they’re not too creepy). *ahem* It’s closely related to a wheel bug – I met that particular critter for the first time when I was at BugShot last year, but I was warned not to handle them due to the bitey-ness. I’ve handled lots of these Westerns, though, and have never had any issues. 🙂
Beautiful portraits! I love these bugs, although they are invasive in Europe – presumably transported here with Christmas trees – and I also found one inside the house (http://abugblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/on-western-conifer-seed-bug-and.html). Apparently, they are attracted to lights, and often fly at night, which explains how they get into houses.
And I agree with Kimberly, I can’t believe you don’t like spiders after your wonderful photos of jumping spider courting.
Thanks! I saw that they’re invasive overseas, yes. A bit of a bummer…are they terribly pesty there?
As for the spiders, jumping spiders are not on my list of gross and creepy spiders. They are, I agree, entirely adorable. 😉
Pingback: Seeing the Pretty – Find a Friendly Rock
I just love finding others who can “see the pretty” in a bug, and you write so prettily about it, too.
I took the liberty of quoting you and back-linking here: https://friendlyrock.com/2013/03/03/seeing-the-pretty/
Thanks for a nice post!
Thanks very much 🙂