CLOSED: Please help, what is this insect?

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diomedes Blue Island, IL Dec 14, 2009

The short of it:
I found this creepy bugger flying out of my Christmas tree last night, I tried to get a good shot of it but it didn't like to sit still. Links to pics:

http://www.doorsofnight.com/pictures/living%20bug.jpg
http://www.doorsofnight.com/pictures/dead%20bug.jpg

It was about the size of my thumb and flew.

I spent a while reading online and I thought it looked sort of like a clouded plant bug (http://www.cirrusimage.com/bug_clouded_plant.htm) except mine had these thicker notches on the bottoms of the leg segments (visible in living bug). I apologize I'm not better at this, I'm just a creeped out software engineer who's afraid bugs are now living in his house.

The long context:
My in laws ask me to chop down a Christmas tree with them, in the interests of keeping everyone happy, I do. This year we went to some farmer in northern Indiana who was going to level his pine section anyhow, so we could use whatever we wanted. Our tree is the top 7 feet of a 30 foot old pine. When I chopped it down, it sat in tall grass for about an hour. When I got it home (2 weeks ago) I've been killing small spiders and flies that I'm sure came from the tree. But last night was the first time I noticed that big guy. I'm HOPING he/she's from the tree otherwise something horrible is living in my house. I'm really afraid I might have brought something in that'll be a nightmare to get rid of.

Any help at all is greatly greatly greatly appreciated. I've been trying to reassure the wife but this thing really bothered me. Thank you.

Post #7367975
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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Dec 14, 2009

This is a leaf-footed bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Coreidae); one of the conifer seed bugs in the genus Leptoglossus, such as the western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis - see http://tinyurl.com/ybmonu3 for detailed information. These can be nuisance pests when they get indoors, but they do no harm there.

Post #7367997
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diomedes Blue Island, IL Dec 14, 2009

Thank you very much! I believe you are correct and I greatly appreciate your time.

Post #7368277
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