Skip to content

Category Archives: Leaf Footed Bugs   rss

What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Immature Leaf Footed Bugs: genus Leptoglossus

Six legged reddish orange & black insect
July 23, 2009
I live in Southwest Louisiana. I have a small garden with cantaloupes in it. I have a bunch of nickle sized reddish orange & black six legged insects on the leaves. They don’t seem to be eating the leaves, but often are grouped together. I don’t know if they are doing good or harm, so I have not taken any action as far as pest control. I’ve looked all over the internet with no luck. Thank you for your help!
Amateur Gardner in LA
Southwest Louisiana

Leaf Bug Nymphs

Leaf Bug Nymphs

Dear Amateur Gardener,
After our initial short response (please don’t put us on blast for not giving you a complete response) we found a matching photo on BugGuide while researching information on Leptoglossus phyllopus, one of the Leaf Footed Bugs.  You live within the range map, so we believe you may have this species or a member of the genus.  Immature nymphs are often nearly impossible to properly identify unless they can be associated with the adults. In quantities, these may damage some of your produce, especially if they begin to attack ripening tomatoes since they secrete a saliva that could damage the fruit.

Posted 24 July 2009 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Leaf Footed Bug

Please I.D. this one
July 23, 2009
There are ten or more on my tomato plants.
Dear Noah
Aiken, SC USA

Leaf Footed Bug

Leaf Footed Bug

Dear Dear Noah,
This is a Leaf Footed Bug in the genus Leptoglossus.  The Western Conifer Seed Bug is a common ID request from this genus, but your species is, we believe, Leptoglossus phyllopus, based on images posted to BugGuide and the distribution map. According to BugGuide: “Nymphs and adults suck juices from a variety of plants. This bug is particularly noted as a pest on citrus, on which it causes premature fruit drop, but also known to damage many other crops and ornamental plants. Apparently most common on thistle in FL, and on Yucca in KS.”

Posted 24 July 2009 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Squash Bug Nymphs

Bug obliterating my squash
July 20, 2009
I recently noticed some of my squash browning on the leaves and yellowing on the stems. Upon further investigation I found these bugs I have never seen before and they are ravishing my zucchini. Can you please help identify them so I can remove them?
D.K.
North Central West Virginia

Squash Bug Nymphs

Squash Bug Nymphs

Hi D.K.,
These are nymphs of a Squash Bug in the genus Anasa, which can be verified by this photo on BugGuide. The most likely member of the genus is Anasa tristis, and BugGuide has this to say about this injurious species:  “This is the most injurious species of coreid in Florida (3)  Injects a toxic saliva into plants, causing wilting and blackening of leaves. Can also act as vector of cucurbit yellow vine disease, which kills plants.”

Posted 20 July 2009 § ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Immature Giant Mesquite Bug

What kind of bug is this?
July 12, 2009
It was quite large. It was found in mid July of 2009.
Joe
It was found in Tuscon, Arizona.

Giant Mesquite Bug Nymph

Giant Mesquite Bug Nymph

Hi Joe,
It is a Giant Mesquite Bug, Thasus neocalifornicus, and it is not yet mature.  Adults have wings.

Posted 14 July 2009 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Giant Agave Bugs

Bug found in Cochise County AZ
Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Hi- I photographed these bugs on the flower stalk of a shin dagger (Agave schottii) in Cochise County AZ (SE AZ) on June 25 2009). There were dozens of shin daggers in late bloom in the area, but only a few had these insects present. Thanks, Keith
I’m not sure what this field means
Cochise County AZ (SE AZ) near Sonoita AZ

Giant Agave Bugs

Giant Agave Bugs

Hi Unsure,
The field in question is for your name, or alias.  These are Giant Agave Bugs, Acanthocephala thomasi.  We posted an image yesterday before you wrote, but you must have missed it on our website.  That querant described the Giant Agave Bugs as having red socks.  Your photo shows the Giant Agave Bugs on their host plant.

Posted 30 June 2009 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Giant Agave Bug

Red Socks
Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 4:36 PM
I saw this guy on a trail in a forested canyon in the Huachuca Mts., southeast AZ (el. 6000 ft). It’s about 4cm long. This is my first foray into bug ident., so I don’t even know where to start! Thanks for the great site, I’m bookmarking it.
mt
Sierra Vista, AZ

Giant Agave Bug

Giant Agave Bug

Dear mt,
This is a Giant Agave Bug, Acanthocephala thomasi, a Leaf Footed Bug in the family Coreidae.  Red Socks is a very colorful description for this distinctive member of the genus. You may read more about this species on BugGuide.

Posted 29 June 2009 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Immature Giant Mesquite Bugs

Strange Red & White Cricket (?)
Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Hi -
I am visiting my mom in Rio Rico, AZ (about an hour south of Tucson, AZ) and we found these strange looking red, white and black crickets (?) on a bean plant this morning (06/21/09). I’ve never seen anything like them, especially their antennae. Towards the end of it there is a flattened almost circular area, and then the straight line antennae continues. They seem to be feeding on the beans in the plant, and there must be 30-40 on one plant.
Kristy
Rio Rico, AZ

Giant Mesquite Bug nymphs

Giant Mesquite Bug nymphs

Hi Kristy,
These are not crickets. Rather they are True Bugs, more specifically, Giant Mesquite Bugs, Thasus neocalifornicus, in the family Coreidae, the Leaf Footed Bugs. They are not feeding on beans, but rather the pods of Mesquite. These are colorful immature nymphs. Once they become winged adults, much of the bright coloration with distinctive markings is covered by the wings. You may read more about them on BugGuide.

Giant Mesquite Bug nymph

Giant Mesquite Bug nymph

Posted 22 June 2009 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Unknown Flag Footed Bug from Brazil

What’s That Bug? found this beautiful insect never seen anything like it!!
Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 5:32 AM
found this insect in sao paulo Brazil in the garden of the house had never seen something
would you identify the species!!?!
thanks
William Martins
SÃO PAULO -BRASIL

Flag Footed Bug from Brazil

Flag Footed Bug from Brazil

Dear William,
In North America, members of the family Coreidae are known as Big Legged Bugs or Leaf Footed Bugs. There is one Central American species, Anisocelis flavolineata, that is called the Flag Footed Bug. Several years ago, we posted a wonderful image of a mating pair of Flag Footed Bugs. Then, in November 2008, we received an awesome image of an insect from Costa Rica that appears to be closely related to Anisocelis flavolineata, but is distinctively different in coloration. That insect matches your insect. It is still unidentified, but we are calling it a Flag Footed Bug as well. We hope this time, one of our readers will be able to give us an exact species identification. Your letter is the only one we will be posting this morning. We are busy trying to save the planet one California Black Walnut studded hillside at a time. We have a local Land Issue appeal to prepare for and though we do not have the temerity to compare our couple of acres of natural wilderness in the middle of Los Angeles, in view of the Griffith Observatory and Downtown, to the ravaging of the rain forest in either Brazil or Costa Rica, we are doing what we can to preserve diversity of habitat and open spaces in our own front yard on Mount Washington.

Flag Footed Bug from Brazil

Flag Footed Bug from Brazil

Update: Submitted on 2009/06/19 at 12:05pm
Hi! I believe Williams´s insect is Diactor bilineatus (Fabricius, 1803). In Brazil is called percevejo do maracujá, because is usually found on passion vines (maracujá: Passiflora)
Kind regards from San Antonio Oeste, in Patagonia, Argentina
Mirta

Hi Mirta,
The photo of Diactor bilineatus on TrekNature identified by Annette Aiello Staff Scientist
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute looks related to the insect posted, but definitely a different species or at least a completely different color variation. There is one posted on FlickR that looks closer, but the coloration is still different.

Posted 19 June 2009 § ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged:

Big Legged Bug

Bug on my Sunflower
Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 3:37 PM
This bug started showing up about 2 weeks ago – Davenport, Fl (near Orlando) Do you know what it is?
Thanks for our time,
Danny
Davenport, Fl 33837

Big Legged Bug

Big Legged Bug

Hi Danny,
This is Acanthocephala femorata , a Big Legged Bug or Leaf Footed Bug in the family Coreidae.  It is a plant feeder and is probably sucking the juices from your sunflower.

Posted 16 June 2009 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Leaf Footed Bug: Giant Mesquite Bug or close relative

Need ID for Neo tropical Conservation Project
Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Hi Daniel,
Sorry it’s me again. I have this pic of a very colorful bug that looks like a reduviid but the narrow neck usually typical of the family is not present and also the shield on the back is kind of wierd… therefore I was thinking it might be in another family, maybe leaffooted bug (correidae) although those one are not really  colorful most of the time. Any ID?
You may want to check this link on flickr as someone else took a pic of a similar bug at higher elevetion somewhere else in the country (a difference of 500 metres!). On his pic you will also see the profile of the lad which can prove helpful. Here’s the link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28347466@N08/3333642517/in/set-72157605982707119/
Absolutely no rush, I know you are busy working on that book, so good luck with it! You are doing a wonderful job teaching people how to admire and respect bugs. Thank you!
Best
Thierry
Ecuador

Leaf Footed Bug

Leaf Footed Bug

Hi again Thierry,
We agree with the family Coreidae (only one r), the Leaf Footed Bugs.  It may be the genus Thasus which contains the Giant Mesquite Bug, Thasus neocalifornicus, which looks quite similar.  You can see images of this species, which ranges in California and Mexico, on BugGuide.  The insect in the photo on the link you provided is incorrectly identified as being in the family Reduvidae, the Assassin Bugs.

Posted 03 June 2009 § ‡ Comments (1) °

Giant Agave Bug

Beetle found on an agave plant
Sun, May 17, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Would like to know the identity of this beetle. Found near Sedona, AZ on 5/17/09 on the stem of an agave (century plant) starting to bloom. Body about 4 cm long. Two different beetles are shown, one with spot at end of body, one without. They are assumed to be the same species – perhaps male and female?
Many thanks
Dale
Northern AZ

Giant Agave Bug

Giant Agave Bug

Hi Dale,
Your insect is not a beetle, but rather a true bug.  It is a Giant Agave Bug, Acanthocephala thomasi.  Unlike beetles which have chewing mouthparts, the true bugs have piercing and sucking mouthparts.  The Giant Agave Bug feeds on the juices of the agave plant.  Look at BugGuide for more photos on the Giant Agave Bug which is found in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Posted 19 May 2009 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Unknown Hatchlings

Leaf Footed Hatchlings Caught in the Act….. Hatching!
Tue, May 12, 2009 at 7:40 PM
These cute little bugs were in the process of hatching right before my eyes. Within half an hour they were all out of their egg casings and huddled together. I saw the mother a few days earlier and didn’t realise what she was doing, by the time I did, she was long gone. She was certainly a leaf-footed bug, well at least I think so, I just can’t seem to figure out which kind. I’ve found no images that look similar to mine. Cure my curiosity! (please:)
Daniel Allen
Austin, TX

Leaf Footed Bug Hatchlings

Leaf Footed Bug Hatchlings


Dear Daniel,
Hatchlings can often be very difficult to properly identify.  We wish you had taken a photograph of the adult because that would have made the identity of the hatchlings certain and would have been a much easier task.

Posted 14 May 2009 § ‡ Comments (1) °

Page 2 of 4«1234»