The western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) is a common pest of cone bearing trees in the western states that has been expanding its range eastward for several years and is now found throughout the Northeastern U.S. You’ve probably seen these slow-moving, strange-looking insects crawling on homes and commercial buildings during the fall. So, why are they here, and what are they doing in your house? Like most of the “new” pest species we’ve seen lately, this bug’s appearance is probably due to some natural migration, (they’re strong fliers), combined with interstate transportation of forest products like Christmas trees and live nursery stock. These bugs become a nuisance for property owners in the fall when they congregate on buildings seeking access to spend the winter. Fortunately, they do not bite and cause no damage to structures. For the moment, the best control method appears to be to deny entry by sealing around doors, windows, chimneys, etc. If you have problems with seed bugs or other insects, our proven semi-annual service is an effective method of western conifer seed bug removal when they seek to over winter in your home. Contact us at 1-800-525-8084 to schedule service.