Western Conifer Seed Bug Leptoglossus occidentalis

This North American native has experienced a dramatic recent range explosion eastward from west of the Rocky Mountains, now established across eastern Canada and the entire northeastern United States. It's even invaded Europe and Argentina accidentally through modern shipping. Once hidden in conifer seeds in its native range, this bug demonstrates how global transportation creates superhighways for insects—one stowaway in a cargo shipment can become a continental pest within decades. Its rapid spread is a modern invasion story unfolding in real time.