Northern Mass near Nashua, NH - Found in the house primarily, although it's obvious they are coming in from the outside. - Leptoglossus occidentalis

I've heard these called stink bugs, too.

Though the term is much more widely used for bugs in the family family Pentatomidae, bugs in the family Coreidae (generally known as Leaffooted bugs) also give off unpleasant odors when handled, so the name fits them too.

I second the ID, too - this Leptoglossus sp. is more brightly colored than others you might come across where you live.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 8 February, 2007 - 7:58pm

Leptoglossus... ?

maybe a western conifer seed bug. Comparing to http://bugguide.net/node/view/76522. But you're in Mass? so hmmm...

… joot, 8 February, 2007 - 4:32pm

Yes,

it's one of the most commonly posted species for ID requests.

… Jim McClarin, 8 February, 2007 - 9:38pm

Good Instincts!

I agree; the legs are an outstanding characteristic of leaf-footed bugs. joot, if you go back to that section and click Data, you'll see we have several of posts of these from Mass. (Tom Murray, I'd guess.) [Thanks, Jim, for the name correction.]

trite, if you click on this, you'll go right to the section. Click on the Info tab to find out more. Then click on Images to see other posts, and Data to check geographic and temporal distribution. (Boy, do I sound scientific. Overly pseudoscientific.)

BTW, welcome to Bug Guide!

… Ron Hemberger, 8 February, 2007 - 6:07pm

Thanks!

This was exactly what I was hoping for. These creatures tend to be all over my house in the fall and again in the spring, although not as much. I mostly wanted to make sure they were harmless and weren't going to become an infestation.

Thanks again!

… trite, 9 February, 2007 - 7:05am

L. occidentalis.

I don't know of any other species of Leptoglossus that does the house-invading thing. Don't let the common name (western conifer seed bug) throw you, the insect now occurs across the entire northern U.S. and adjacent Canada.

… Eric R. Eaton, 12 February, 2007 - 2:49pm