Leaffooted Bug

Leaffooted Bug

Leaffooted bug (pest)

Side view, leaffooted bug (note the back leg shape)

Common Name: Leaffooted Bug, Leaffooted Plant Bug

Scientific Name: Order Heteroptera, family Coreidae, Leptoglossus phyllopus

Size: Adult—3/4″

Identification: Dark brown bug that looks like an elongated stink bug. Antennae are four-segmented. Hind legs flattened like a leaf. Eggs are white and key-shaped and are laid on the underside of leaves.

Biology and Life Cycle: Adults pass the winter in sheltered spots. One brood a year. Incomplete metamorphosis—eggs, nymphs, and adults.

Feeding Habits: Adults and nymphs like to suck the juice from leaves, shoots, fruits, buds, and seeds.

Photos by Kimberly Atchley

Habitat: Most gardens and natural areas. Many food crops and some ornamentals. Beans, citrus, peas, pecans, potatoes, tomatoes, and wild areas.

Economic Importance: Attack and damage crops of several species such as asparagus, tomatoes, cotton, peaches, potatoes, oranges, and many other crops.

Natural Control: Birds, snakes, lizards. Good biodiversity. Parasitic flies such as the tachinid fly. Assassin bugs, birds, wolf spiders, and frogs.

Organic Control: None usually needed. Citrus oil products will eliminate a heavy infestation.

Insight: Kin to squash bugs. Howard has tried using a cordless shop vac in the garden to pull these pests off of garden crops, with moderate success.

Leaffooted eggs and nymphs