Greyish, Flying, Huge bug!
Sat, Mar 7, 2009 at 2:02 PM
My husband and I live in Northwest, Florida and we just moved into a place that is in a pretty wooded area. Right now its about 70 degrees outside. But almost everytime we get into our car we see one of these bugs!! There always on the outside of the windows and today I saw one above the door! These bugs freak me out, can they hurt me?
B. McClellan
Northwest Florida
Hi B.,
This is a Big Legged Plant Bug or Leaf Footed Bug in the family Coreidae and the genus Acanthocephala. We believe it is Acanthocephala declivis based on the range and description on B ugGuide, though we would not rule out another member of the genus since the distinctive tubercles mentioned on BugGuide are not visible in your somewhat dark photo. Other members of the genus can also be viewed on BugGuide. The Big Legged Plant Bugs suck the juices from plants and are no direct threat to humans.
Is this bug the same as, or related to a stink bug?
They are in the same order, but different families.
L-o-v-e this big bug! It’s everywhere in my yard – perhaps because i have a big tree plus lots of other smaller things for it to eat. It’s so slow. I’m glad it doesn’t like to eat me.
There was one that got into my house and one of my cats tried to get it. While I did not see what happened my Himalayan gal must have thought “lunch” and came away running, left eye closed and mount drooling. I was concerned but could not find anything negative. She seems fine now, so I wonder if he had kicked her in her eye. Just a thought.
I do tree work in Florida I get been sprayed in the face every once in a while buy them it’s almost like a super light pepper spray