Western Conifer Seed Bug
Question from Carol:
Can you identify this insect for me
Answer from Pat:
The insect you found is a Western Conifer Seed Bug or WCSB (Leptoglossus occidentalis.) This is “true bug”, not a beetle and it is native to California as well as Oregon and Nevada. Here it is in balance in our environment but it is an invasive pest in Europe. This is also known as a “leaf-footed” bug because of the odd shape of its back feet or legs. I have found this and some other types of leaf-footed bugs in my garden from time to time. This one sucks on pine cones and makes them shrivel, but I guess it doesn’t do much harm around here since the pine cones dropping from my Torrey pines right now seem super healthy. In fact I am hoping none fall on my head!
this looks like the insect i recently found on my orange tree. for about 10 days in late march, about 15 to 20 of these insects were in my valencia orange tree mating. they flew away when i disturbed them, but were back the next day. never have seen them before this year and have not seen them since late march. thanks, mark
If they had the bars on them that is the western conifer seed bug, otherwise might be another species of leaf-footed bug. In Florida there is a leaf-footed bug that damages citrus fruit.
6/18/2014, I was out picking apricots from my tree and found many of these in the tree and eating the fruit. What I have looks the same as the image above. I kept one and was going to take to the local Vector control District to confirm it.
Some types of leaf-footed bugs are easy to catch by hand. Wear disposable gloves and drop them into a bucket of soapy water. Another solution: Try hanging sticky yellow traps in the tree to attract and catch these beetles. Another organic solution is to dust the tree with Diatomaceous Earth. Be sure to wear a mask if and when using a duster. This powder is harmless to humans and easy to wash off fruit, but don’t get it into your lungs.