Getting rid of western bedbugs from cones

88 species of western cone bugs infest Canada. These insects, of the order of the heteropter and the Family of Coréids, are phytophages.

They live on pines and conifers. They feed on their cones and seeds.

Western cone bugs, despite their impressive size, remain harmless to humans and other animals.

In autumn, they infest our homes in large numbers and their presence is disturbing.

What does this insect look like? What do we know about its reproduction? How can we prevent his intrusion? How do we eliminate it? All questions we have answers to from professionals!

Physical description of cone bug

Still known as the Pine Bug, the AmericanPine Bug, the western cone bug measures 15 mm to 20 mm. It is reddish-brown.

His head is elongated and narrow. Its antennae are thin, mobile, quite long (about 12 mm) and have 4 items. His eyes are red and have a pair of ocelles between them.

The elytra of this insect are composed of two parts: a tough part and a membrane part. That’s why they’re called hemelytra. Each of these hemelytres bears a more or less losangic or “W”-shaped design. The western cone bug has the ability to fly.

This insect has a long, thin rostrum that has 4 articulated segments. Its abdomen, on the upper side, has 5 dark transverse spots and is yellow-orange in colour.

All his legs are long. The posteriors are (compared to the others) of disproportionate size, have spiny femurs, and foliaceous-looking shins.

The western cone bug has two scent glands on either side of its chest.

It is very difficult to distinguish the male from the female. The only sure way to do this is to examine their genital plaques at the ventral end of their abdomen.

The life cycle of this heteropter

After wintering, the adults gather with pheromones and then reproduce. While their mating is similar to that of many insects, it can be repetitive.

The female lays rows of 4 or 5 eggs on the needles of the conifers that make up their place of residence.

Egg incubation takes place within two to three weeks. Larval development consists of 5 stages. The larvae resemble adults, but they are first orange. In summer, bedbugs become wings and become adults.

The invasion of western bedbugs cones: harmful?

The western cone bug usually lives on pines and other conifers. It feeds on plants and mainly pine cones in formation as well as their seeds. It detects heat from a distance thanks to infrared receptors located on abdominal segments 1 to 4.

The first larval stage of the western cone bug feeds on the needles and tender parts of the cones. The other 4 stadiums devour the seeds.

When they infest conifers these pine bugs reduce seed production.

As winter approaches, the western bedbug of the cones enters our homes. When it is at ease, it emits aggregation pheromones that attract other members of its species. They do the same. In a short time, you find yourself infested with many of these insects.

They then land on the piles of leaves, in the burning of the windows or in the gaps of the woodwork.

The western cone bug is in no way harmful to human health or that of your pets. Crushed, it emits a foul smell.

3 tips to push it away

Here are some tips to prevent an infestation of western cone bugs:

• They come into your home to protect themselves from winter. Therefore, as winter approaches, close doors and windows.

• Clean your house often, get rid of piles of leaves.

• Inspect woodwork gaps very often. If you find a single western cone bug, kill it before it attracts others by releasing aggregation pheromone.

To do this, you can use insecticides. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations so you don’t intoxicate yourself.

Professional exterminator solutions

The elimination of western bugs from cones takes place in two stages:

1. Careful inspection of the premises:
   The exterminator will carefully inspect the premises. Its objective: to identify all the places invaded by western cone bugs.
2. Spraying insecticides.

To remove western bugs from cones, the exterminator will spray appropriate insecticides. It will do so in accordance with environmental safety standards and will follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to the letter.

Beware, there are many amateurs in this trade. Know how to recognize a truly professional exterminator. The latter:

• A permit from the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development marked C5: Extermination.
• Has certified professional technicians in extermination.
• Informs you, after extermination of the western bugs of the cones, about the arrangements to be taken so that they do not invade you anymore.
• Uses unidentified vehicles and remains discreet in all interventions.
• Offers you a written guarantee on the effectiveness of its treatment against theinvasion of western cone bugs

And you, have the western bugs of the cones already invaded your home? Did you manage to get rid of it? If so, how? Tell us in the comments below.