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Other Critters
Insects such as stink bugs, boxelder bugs, and ladybugs normally live outdoors but can become a nuisance to homeowners during the fall and winter months when they seek shelter indoors to escape the cold weather outside.
Common pest species found in New York:
Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
Multicolored Asian lady beetles look like large ladybugs, and they come in a wide range of colors and patterns.
These beetles form large aggregations with up to tens of thousands of individuals. They’re usually seen in the fall, swarming in sunlit areas and on light-colored buildings.
They may bite when they land on people, which sometimes causes an allergic reaction. When threatened, they also release a foul-smelling liquid that leaves behind yellowish stains.
Size: 1/4–1/3 inch long (6–8 mm); about the length of long-grain rice
Color: Several color patterns (morphs) ranging from yellowish-orange to red, with or without black spots
Shape: Round, dome-shaped body with short antennae, 6 legs, and 2 pairs of wings
Legs: 6 legs; thin and reddish-brown
Antennae: Short antennae that are mostly yellow with black tips
Head: Head and pronotum are white with black markings that form a “M” or “W” shape
Body: Depending on the morph, it may have a yellowish-orange or red shell with anywhere from 0–22 black spots, or a black shell with 2–4 red spots
Wings: Hardened forewings (elytra) and membranous hindwings; capable of flight
Soldier Beetles / Leatherwings
Multiple Species (Cantharidae spp.)
Soldier beetles are a common outdoor pest in the summer. They closely resemble fireflies or “lightning bugs,” which belong in the same family.
These insects are mostly beneficial and they do not bite or sting. However, they can become a nuisance when they enter homes in buildings in the fall seeking places to spend the winter.
Soldier beetles are also known as “leatherwings” because of their soft, leathery wing covers.
Size: 1/5–5/8 inch long (5–15 mm); about the length of a sunflower seed
Color: Red, orange, yellow, brown, or black; varies by species
Shape: Narrow, straight-sided body with long segmented antennae, 6 legs, and 2 pairs of wings
Legs: 6 legs that are long and slender; color is usually black but varies by species
Antennae: 11-segmented antennae that are thin, thread-like, and more than 1/2 as long as its body
Body: Narrow, straight-sided body with soft wing covers (elytra); its head is clearly visible (not covered by the pronotum) and usually bent downward; color and markings vary by species
Wings: Long, flattened elytra that are soft and flexible unlike most beetles; color and markings vary by species
Boxelder Bug
Boisea trivittata
Boxelder bugs are usually found in areas around boxelder, maple, and ash trees.
During the fall, large numbers of these bugs can be seen sunbathing on the south face of trees, rocks, and buildings. As temperatures drop, they wander into homes in search of a warm place to survive the winter.
Boxelder bugs are harmless to humans, but their droppings may stain fabrics, upholstery, and other belongings. They also release an unpleasant odor when disturbed or crushed.
(Photo: Bruce Marlin)
Size: 3/8–1/2 inch long (10–14 mm); about the length of a blueberry
Color: Brownish-black with red markings
Shape: Flat, sunflower seed-shaped body with long antennae, 6 legs, and 2 pairs of wings
Legs: 6 legs
Antennae: Thin, 4-segmented antennae that are about 1/2 the length of its body
Head: Small head with round, red eyes
Body: Flat, sunflower seed-shaped body that’s mostly dark colored with 3 reddish stripes behind its head and around the margins of its wings; abdomen underneath its wings is reddish-orange
Wings: 2 pairs of wings that fold flat over its body; the outer tips of its forewings are black and translucent; capable of flight
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Halyomorpha halys
Brown marmorated stink bugs are an invasive species of stink bugs that damages a wide variety of plants and agricultural crops.
The “marmorated” part of the name comes from their unique, marbled appearance. When disturbed or crushed, they release a pungent odor that some describe as similar to cilantro.
These stinky but otherwise harmless bugs start infesting homes and buildings during the fall in search of shelter for the winter.
(Photo: Kristie Graham, USDA ARS)
Size: 1/2–2/3 inch long (12–17 mm); about the length of a dime
Color: Mottled brown
Shape: Flat, shield-shaped body with long antennae, 6 legs, and 2 pairs of wings
Legs: 6 legs; mostly brown with faint white bands
Antennae: Long, 5-segmented antennae with white bands on the last 2 segments
Body: Flat, shield-shaped body with wide “shoulders” and a pointed tip; mostly mottled brown or gray with alternating light and dark bands on the outer edge of its abdomen; underside is beige or white-brown
Wings: Leathery forewings and membranous hindwings that fold flat over its body; capable of flight
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Leptoglossus occidentalis
Western conifer seed bugs are overwintering insects that occasionally enter homes and buildings during the fall in search of shelter from the cold.
They sometimes make loud buzzing noises when they fly, which resembles the sound of a bumble bee.
Although they can be a nuisance, these bugs are harmless. They do not bite, sting, or cause damage to property. However, they release a pungent odor when disturbed or crushed.
(Photo: John Cox)
Size: 2/3–4/5 inch (16–20 mm); about the length of a penny
Color: Mottled brown
Shape: Flat, spade-shaped body with long antennae, 6 legs, and 2 pairs of wings
Legs: 6 slow-moving legs; its hind legs are extra long and have a flattened, leaf-like enlargement on the tibiae
Antennae: Thin antennae that are as long as its body
Body: Flat, spade-shaped body with a small, tapered head and alternating light and dark bands on the outer edge of its abdomen; its wings form an “X” shape across the back and have a white zigzag line running horizontally across the middle
Wings: Leathery forewings and membranous hindwings that fold flat over its body; makes a buzzing noise when it flies
Pill Bug / Roly-Poly
Armadillidium vulgare
Pill bugs are not actually insects—they’re isopods, an order of crustaceans. In fact, they’re one of the only two kinds of crustaceans that are completely adapted to living on land (the other is sow bugs).
These nocturnal, soil-dwelling creatures are also known as “roly-polies” because of their ability to roll their bodies into a tight ball when feeling threatened.
Pill bugs are harmless to humans, and are mostly found in damp, shady areas outdoors with lots of plants around. They require high levels of moisture and typically do not survive long indoors.
Size: 1/3–2/3 inch long (9–18 mm); about the length of a watermelon seed
Color: Light to dark gray
Shape: Oval, dome-shaped body with a segmented exoskeleton, long antennae, and 14 legs
Legs: 7 pairs of legs (14 total); mostly hidden under its shell
Antennae: Long, prominent antennae that usually bend outwards
Body: Oval, dome-shaped body with a hard, shell-like exoskeleton comprised of 7 overlapping plates; convex on top and flat underneath; rolls into a tight ball when disturbed
Sow Bugs
Multiple species (Oniscus and Porcellio spp.)
Sow bugs, like pill bugs, are nocturnal, soil-dwelling isopods that normally live outdoors in damp, shady areas.
The main difference between sow bugs and pill bugs is that sow bugs cannot roll into a ball.
Sow bugs are harmless to humans and mainly feed on decaying plant matter and are considered beneficial for gardens and landscapes. They require high levels of moisture and typically do not survive long indoors.
Size: 1/4–2/3 inch long (6–18 mm); about the length of a watermelon seed
Color: Light to dark gray
Shape: Flattened, dome-shaped body with a jagged edges, long antennae, 14 legs, and 2 tail-like appendages
Legs: 7 pairs of legs (14 total); mostly hidden under its shell
Antennae: Long, prominent antennae that usually bend outwards
Body: Flattened, dome-shaped body with a hard, shell-like exoskeleton comprised of 7 overlapping plates with somewhat jagged edges; look for 2 short, tail-like appendages protruding from the rear
