They are here also,more than I've seen before,but nothing like your description,about a dozen spotted the last month or two.
Wikipedia lists their food as mostly the sap of developing conifer cones,but can be invasive in areas with those kind of plants nearby as they look for places to stay during Winter.
I'm not sure about the control.
I just read on another site that an arctic blast can make them move closer to warmth. Brady

This post was edited by Bradybb on Thu, Nov 13, 14 at 4:05

Are you sure they aren't browm marmerated stinkbugs. Google them and come back here.

These are probably "leaf-footed" bugs. They actually do feed on fruits and veggies, and they are in our area. They look very similar to the conifer bug.

See link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Leaf-footed bug

I'm betting on BMSBs. Reports I've seen suggest that they are prone to moving 'indoors' to overwinter.

I'm betting on BMSBs. Reports I've seen suggest that they are prone to moving 'indoors' to overwinter.

They most definitely do seek to get in warm areas for sure. They sure as Hell don't smell like green apples though.

I agree though...BMSB would be my bet, but if it is I don't get the "green apple" thing.

BMSB are now very well established in the region (really an epidemic), well known winter tenants of homes and easily identified with photos very accessible on the internet. Let City comment after doing a bit of research. He's the only one who can match the insect with photos.

Sounds like it could be the kudzu bug.

I have the same or similar bug here in Alpine, Texas. Some years are worse than others. About three years ago they were thick and inside my electrical panels and work shop. This year there are very few but the grasshoppers where thick as the weeds. We had pretty steady rains this year.

I'm seeing the leaf-footed bug here this fall, when last year it was the BMSB. The LFB looks kinda like a BMSB that went on a diet and got skinny.

Need to see a picture please.

Here everyone is trying to help me and I disappear for a couple days. Sorry. First, of course I should have taken a photo. I haven't seen one in the last day or so but if I do I promise to send one. I looked at the BMSB and LFB and they look so similar that I'll have to catch another one to determine. However, from what I read they emit a bad, well, "stink" whereas I have only smelled what I described as "green apples". Strange (as some of you agreed about) as that explanation is, if you google things along the line of "bug that smells like green apples when killed" it comes up with countless posts of people describing that exact same odor (green apples) and I didn't know that when I used it as a description. And in all those posts, the "answers" and/or corresponding bug described is the "western conifer seed bug". If you look up the WCSB on various bug sites its often described as smelling like green apples when squashed. SO I'm more confused as ever. I do have a stand of about 10 giant white pines 100 yards from my home, but I'm in the Southeast (TN).
I know this is a fruit tree site, and the reason I'm posting this here is because I know various stink bugs damage fruit so I thought you all might be familiar with them AND whether or not I should do anything different to prepare for a possible infestation in the spring? Anyway, next one I see I'll get a photo and maybe that will help you help me. Meanwhile, thank all of you for taking the time to try and help me.

Apparently, you can catch stink bugs indoors with some lights rather than by hand or vacuum cleaner. There are videos on youtube how to make a trap if interested.

I looked up the "western conifer seed bug" and I'm pretty sure I've seen these things around here too. Of course, it could be some similar looking "cousin" or something. Reading about it's range though it sounds more than plausible that it's here in the east. Wiki lists several eastern pine species it has been known to feed on.

This post was edited by Appleseed70 on Sun, Nov 16, 14 at 4:21

Be grateful if is anything else but BMSB.