Western Conifer Seed Bugs 101: What Vail Residents Need To Know


November 15, 2023

We want to help you keep western conifer seed bugs out of your home, and this guide will give you all the info you need to do this successfully. 

Western conifer seed bugs fall under the category of occasional invaders. The pests in this category typically only cause problems at certain times of the year based on their behavior, habits, and life cycles. As we’ll talk about soon enough, this tends to be early fall for western conifer seed bugs. 

This article will not only give you a rundown of what western conifer seed bugs are but also the potential damage they can cause, prevention tips to keep them away from your home, and professional control options. Let’s begin. 

What Are Western Conifer Seed Bugs?

Because western conifer seed bugs are an occasional invader pest, you’re more likely to see them at certain times of year. It’s important to know how to identify these pests and distinguish them from other pests you might come across. 

Basically, these are insects that prefer to feed on pine cones. They’re about 3/4 of an inch long, and while they have similar brown coloring to the brown marmorated stink bugs, their bodies are more elongated than those of stink bugs. Stink bugs are also quite a bit smaller. 

Western conifer seed bugs become pests when they try to enter human homes, which is usually during late summer when the temperatures start to drop. 

Are Western Conifer Seed Bugs Dangerous Or Destructive?

Like many occasional invader bugs, western conifer seed bugs spend as much time as possible near their primary food source and habitat. They only approach human homes when they need shelter, especially in the winter. 

It can be disturbing to find these insects in your home, but are they actually harmful? Well, we’ve got good news: western conifer seed bugs are not dangerous to humans. In extremely rare cases, they may try to poke you with their proboscis, but this doesn’t cause harm. Also, they smell bad when crushed, but the smell isn’t dangerous, either. 

As for property damage, western conifer seed bugs won’t cause any significant damage to your home. However, we should note that, given their food source, they do have the potential to damage conifer seeds. While this isn’t an issue for the average home, it can be problematic in forest settings, as it prevents healthy regrowth. 

Strategies To Deter Conifer Seed Bugs From Your Vail Property

Before we finish, let’s cover some prevention tips for occasional invaders, such as western conifer seed bugs. Here are some key tips you can use to keep these bugs out of your home, even when they’re most active: 

  • Seal all cracks in the outer walls of your home.
  • Mow your lawn regularly and keep hedges and trees pruned.
  • Check for damage to window screens and repair or replace them as necessary.
  • If you have pine trees in your yard, prune pine cones and remove dropped pine cones promptly. 

Of course, if your home already has an unbearable number of western conifer seed bugs and you don’t know what to do next, professional pest control can help. 

Why To Call The Pros For Conifer Seed Bugs And Other Pests In Vail

Professional control is the most convenient and effective choice to control occasional invaders like western conifer seed bugs. 

Pest control providers Like RAM Pest Control know exactly how to address these problems at their source, and they can safely remove any western conifer seed bugs from your home without subjecting you to the terrible pine-like smell of these pests. 

If you’re struggling with occasional invaders in Vail, give us a call or contact us through our website.

Tags: conifer seed bug infestation | western conifer seed bug identification | western conifer seed bugs in co |