Swimming lesson

So the bugs think it's spring, too. A western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, woke up from his winter's nap somewhere in my woodwork, and went exploring. The water in the aquarium looked good and he stopped in for a drink. I found him there, struggling, upside-down under the flow from the pump, and rescued him; salt water is no place for a landlubber bug!

I poured some tap water over him to wash off the salt, and dried him off with a J-cloth. Afterward, he was quite content to sit on the cloth and watch me, so I took a couple of quick photos.

"Thanks for the bath!"

He was quite interested in the camera, and left the J-cloth to walk up my hand for a closer look.

These bugs are always so calm, and so interested in their surroundings; as curious as kittens, but without the brain power to account for it. I wonder what goes on in their tiny heads. And whether they remember what they just discovered. Will this guy, once he gets back inside, go for a drink in the tank again?

I put him outside in the rain; it's warm enough already, and the water's fresh.

In his natural habitat

It's that time of the year again; the Western conifer seed bugs are moving indoors for the rest of the year, as they always (attempt to) do. I found one on the window a couple of mornings ago, captured him* and brought him in, safely contained in a pill bottle.

I've photographed them before, in plastic containers, on white paper, in a glass container. I thought this time, I'd try for a natural background, and brought in a fallen maple leaf as a backdrop. It's what's around, this season; it should have been a familiar resting spot.

But no. He up and left  the minute he was freed.

Western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis.

The photo I managed to take while he opened his wings and flew away caught the upper part of his abdomen  It shows an interesting pattern of black chess pieces on yellow, and two red tail lights, which I had never seen before.

I couldn't see where he'd gone, but didn't worry. He's harmless, at least until spring, when his nymphs will start work on my evergreens. For now, all he wants is a warm place to sleep.

Later, while I sat reading, I saw him on the baseboard behind a lamp. A good spot; clean background, bright light. And for him, that was, really, a natural habitat, at least in the winter. So I crawled up to him and took photos.

Kneeling on the  baseboard, leaning on the wall. He stayed in variations of that posture while he looked me over.

He's very much aware of me, but not bothered at all by my proximity. Even when I touched his antenna with the tip of a finger, he didn't mind.

These are very social insects. When I've kept them in containers, they went into a sulk until I added a companion; then they woke up and started grooming and waving antennae at each other. And the more, the merrier. Even when that "more" includes a big human with a camera. This time, as I took photos, the bug suddenly disappeared. I found him right on the camera lens, checking it out.

I brushed him off, back onto the baseboard. He was fine with that, too.

"Maybe I'll just mosey along down this road, and find a nice spot to sleep."

I was about an inch away from his face. He stretched up one antenna to me, as if to say goodnight, then walked slowly off behind a cabinet.

* Or her. I still can't find any information on differences between the sexes. Maybe they're identical, to our eyes. The bugs seem to know which is which.

Chocolate bug

Every year about this time, we begin to find leaf-footed bugs near the doors and windows, as they come in looking for a warm place to sleep over the winter. Every year, I take photos.

I love these bugs, even though they have killed a couple of our young evergreens. They are calm, patient critters, as curious as cats, sociable and co-operative. And so elegant! And so, each year, I try to capture some of that personality on camera, with variable success.

Here's this year's attempt.

They're always neat, in their formal coat with its inset of chocolate pleated silk, and a short cape for warmth on the shoulders.

See what I mean by "co-operative"? He's perfectly willing to sit still for long photo sessions, unrestrained, on whatever background I choose for him, under hot lights, only occasionally swinging an antenna my way, as if to ask, "Almost done?"

The hind part of the forewings reminds me of those chocolates we get at Christmas.

The sides, belly, and legs are marked in a checkerboard pattern in vanilla, cinnamon, and chocolate tones.

And on the back of his head, he wears a regal crown.

Two-toned antennae bases , and a sprinkling of gold dust over all. Ready to go!

His curiosity got the better of him. He left his assigned place and came to look at the camera.

And crawled up over the lens. End of this photography session!

Now he's waiting in a pill bottle until I find a companion for him. I won't put him outside in the cold, but he's not allowed to hole up in my furniture or carpets, either.

Storm shelter for bugs

It's that time of year again; the rains have started and the nights are chilly. And the Western conifer seed bugs are looking for winter quarters. Laurie found the first one of the season on the blinds this afternoon.

I checked back; last year, they showed up the 15th of September. In 2007, it was not until October.

First house guest.

Last year, I tried to keep two over the winter; after all, they're just looking for a place to sleep, so there is no care or feeding involved, just proper housing. They made it most of the way through, but in the spring, they died before they got around to breeding. I'll try again this year, if a second one shows up. (They like company.)

Good-looking guy, although a bit bug-eyed.

These are leaf-footed bugs. Since this one was being really co-operative (interested in the camera, and willing to pose), I took a few shots of the hind legs.

A very tiny, hairy, brown leaf.

There's a bit of reddish fibre caught in his toes. Most bugs and spiders I catch around here have some of it. Bits of my carpet? Could be. I sometimes wonder how much of my surroundings are being carted off by assorted beasties.

.

Western Conifer Seed Bug

This leggy character was planning to move indoors for the winter. Laurie found him on the curtains this morning.


He's handsome enough, but...

He and his family have been feasting on our trees all summer. Which was not appreciated. So, no, we are not extending our hospitality to cover the winter, as well. Sorry, guy.

From Cornell U., I learn that,

The leaf-footed bugs use piercing sucking mouthparts to pierce the scales of conifer seeds and suck out the seed pulp. The list of host plants includes white pine, red pine, Scotch pine, Austrian pine, mugo pine, white spruce, Douglas fir and hemlock. Often these trees are planted or are growing near homes, and if that is the case, the bugs may seek the nearby buildings as an overwintering site.

...

In spring these bugs move out of doors to coniferous trees nearby. The bugs feed on the developing seeds and early flowers of different species of conifers. Females are reported to lay rows of eggs on needles of the host trees, which hatch in about 10 days. Young nymphs then begin to feed on tender cone scales and sometimes the needles. The nymphs are orange and brown, becoming reddish-brown to brown as they develop. Nymphs pass through five stages and reach adulthood by late August. Adults feed on ripening seed until they seek overwintering quarters.

See that long tube down his belly, 3/4 of his entire length? That's the business end of his "piercing sucking mouthparts". Eep.

Iowa State U. tells me that,

This sap feeding is of no consequence to otherwise healthy trees.

Well, maybe. But we have a couple of new conifers that have been struggling this summer. Dropping needles, failing to thrive. So, Leptoglossus occidentalis, you are being relocated. Elsewhere.