Leaf-footed bugs are a family of plant-eating true bugs known for their unique, leaf-like extensions on their hind legs. These insects can be found feeding on various plants, causing damage to buds, flowers, fruits, and seeds. Interestingly, their ability to fly might not be well-known to those encountering them in their gardens.
These bugs are indeed capable of flying, and they typically create a noisy buzzing sound while doing so. Good flyers, they can easily move from one plant to another, increasing their potential to cause damage to various crops in a short amount of time. Understanding their flying abilities can help gardeners and farmers better manage these pests and take appropriate measures to protect their plants.
Leaf Footed Bugs Overview
Physical Characteristics
Leaf-footed bugs belong to the Coreidae family of true bugs and are named after the unique, flattened, leaf-like extensions found on many species’ hind legs1. These insects are usually dark-colored, with some species showing tan, orange, or yellowish markings:
- 1/2 to 3/4 inch long body
- Well-developed wings
- Distinctive leaf-shaped hind leg extensions2
- Variations in color and markings
Life Cycle
Leaf-footed bugs undergo a simple metamorphosis:
- Eggs are laid on plant stems and leaves
- Nymphs hatch, resembling smaller, wingless adults
- Nymphs molt multiple times before reaching adulthood
The nymphs are often deep orange or light brown in color and lack the “leaf-footed” extensions seen on adults3.
Habitat and Distribution
These true bugs are commonly found in North America, and they inhabit a range of environments. Some important aspects of their habitat and distribution include:
- Primarily distributed throughout North America4
- Living in various environments, including gardens
- Feeding on many different plants, damaging buds, flowers, fruits, and seeds5
Do Leaf Footed Bugs Fly
Flight Mechanism
Leaf-footed bugs can indeed fly. They are good flyers and are capable of making a noisy buzzing sound as they take flight. These flying insects — especially adults — rely on their wings and hind legs for movement. Some of their hind legs possess leaf-like extensions, which is why they’re called leaf-footed bugs.
Seasonal Changes in Habits
Leaf-footed bugs may show changes in their habits depending on the season. During warmer periods, they tend to be more mobile and actively look for food. With increased flying, they make use of their wings and ability to create a buzzing sound. However, when temperatures drop, these insects may adopt less active behaviors and restrict their flying.
Example:
- In spring and summer, leaf-footed bugs may be seen frequently flying around in search of food sources.
Key Features:
- Good flyers
- Create a buzzing sound while flying
- Hind legs with leaf-like extensions (in some species)
Seasonal Habits:
- Active flying during warmer seasons
- Reduced flying in colder temperatures
Impact on Gardens and Crops
Common Target Plants
Leaf-footed bugs target a variety of plants in gardens and crops, including:
- Fruits, such as citrus
- Nuts, like pistachios and almonds
- Ornamental plants
- Vegetables, including tomatoes and squash
- Trees, such as palm trees, conifer trees, and Joshua trees
Damage to Shoots and Fruits
Leaf-footed bugs cause damage to plants by sucking nutrients from the leaves, shoots, fruits, and seeds. In particular, they have significant effects on fruits such as pomegranates, watermelons, and tomatoes. Their feeding can result in:
- Premature fruit drop
- Discoloration of fruit
- Hardened, yellow spots on fruit
Comparison Table
| Leaf-footed Bugs | Squash Bugs |
|---|---|
| Feed on fruits, nuts, flowers | Mostly feed on squash |
| Belong to Coreidae family | Part of Pentatomidae family |
| Widespread and damage various crops | Specific to squash crops |
Overall, leaf-footed bugs pose threats to both ornamental gardens and various crops. Targeting an array of plants, they impact the health and productivity of numerous plants, including fruits and vegetables. Their damage to leaves, shoots, and fruits can lead to diminished yield and quality for gardeners and crop producers alike.
Managing Leaf Footed Bug Infestations
Different Methods of Control
Leaf footed bugs, known for their leaf-like expansions on their hind legs, can be controlled using various methods. One effective approach is using natural predators, such as assassin bugs and ambush bugs from the reduviidae family. These predators help to eliminate the nymphs and adults of leaf footed bugs.
Pros of natural predators:
- Eco-friendly
- Cost-effective
Cons of natural predators:
- May not control the entire infestation
- Takes time to see results
Another method for managing leaf footed bugs is the use of pesticides, including neem oil. Please note, though, that excessive use of pesticides may harm beneficial insects as well.
| Method | Effectiveness | Eco-friendliness | Speed of Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Predators | Moderate | High | Slow |
| Pesticides | High | Low | Fast |
Preventative Measures
Implementing preventative measures can help to avoid or reduce leaf footed bug infestations. Some useful steps include:
- Weed control: Regularly remove weeds around your home and garden, as they can serve as host plants for the bugs.
- Debris removal: Clean up debris such as woodpiles, which can provide hiding spots for bugs during their overwintering stage.
- Row covers: Use row covers on your plants, particularly during the early stages of the bugs’ life cycle, to prevent their access to host plants.
- Monitor eggs: Keep an eye out for tan or orange eggs on the undersides of leaves, and remove them before they hatch into nymphs.
Following these preventative measures can help protect your plants from infestations and ensure a healthier garden.
Bug Control Recommendation Tool
Footnotes
26 Comments. Leave new
No doubt in my mind that this is a Acanthocephala declivis based on the tubercles on the pronotum and the shape of the expanded flanges on the hind tibial shaft.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/164351
I would agree with L. zonatus. These Leaffooted Bugs have the yellow/white spots on the pronotum which are visible in this submitted image.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/164495
I have a control for the “leaf-footed bug” we have a small orchid and were plagued with this insecticide resistant insect. We tried seven, malathion, various pepper based safer formulas, nothing worked. We even tried vacuuming them off the Pomegranates, which was very ridiculous indeed. Finally we sewed rectangular bags out of fiberglass screen, about the size of lunch sacs. We covered the young fruit and tied the bags on the stems. Floating the fruit in the center of the stiff screen sac. this effectively stopped them and was an organic solution. It also allowed the pomegranate to ripen well.With out the bacteria injected by this little devils piercing mouth parts. The bags are reusable season after season. If you want to order some from me email. They are quite interesting to look at unless you have loads of them breeding all over your pomegranate harvest!
Even though its not identified on BugGuide, could it possibly be Acanthocephala terminalis?
Using the photos on this page as a reference http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~larsonmorgan/True%20Bugs/
Thanks for assisting with this identification. If it is not Acanthocephala terminalis, is is surely another member of the genus.
Thanks for answering so quickly!!! And congratulations for your site, it is really great!
oh, and, sorry, but do you know if they are dangerous? it’s cause they have these pointy things on they back that look kind of creepy!!
thanks again!
Coreid Bugs are not known to bite people
I found a similar bug in my home. Western pa. can you tellme why they would travel in? Matting? Looking for food? Warn place?
Some species like Western Conifer Seed Bugs hibernate indoors.
Great little web site you have. After i checked
there was a few pics possibly not showing
in the correct way?
I, too have these little devils in my yard. I thought they were helpful assassin bugs, so I left them alone. Well, they have increased in number and went from destroying my apricot crop to destroying most of my tomatoes. I’m not a fan of pesticides, I’ve never used any, but I’d like to know how to control these pests so that I can somewhat end the frustration before the next crop of food is destroyed. I think they’re on my persimmons as well, I’m experiencing early fruit drop there.
We don’t provide extermination advice, so we would advise you to check federal agricultural websites for information on control.
I know this is a reply to a very old post, but who knows, maybe I’ll get an answer to my question.
Which is: Is the enzyme and/or bacteria that the Leaf Footed Bug injected into my Tomatoes and
Bell Peppers harmful to humans?
I threw out all my Tomatoes because these guys were “IN MASS” mating all over my fruit, ripe or not. I’ve still got quite a few beautifully colored Bell Peppers that I’m in the process of harvesting right now. They got on the peppers after the tomatoes were gone, but not nearly so many, and I was very diligent about keeping them off. But, you know you can’t be everywhere all the time.
I sure would like to reap something out of a whole years work–from seed, but I don’t want to
poison my family.
Any advice would be appreciated. I don’t see a place to post imagines, but Thank You
I know this is a reply to a very old post, but who knows, maybe I’ll get an answer to my question.
Which is: Is the enzyme and/or bacteria that the Leaf Footed Bug injected into my Tomatoes and
Bell Peppers harmful to humans?
I threw out all my Tomatoes because these guys were “IN MASS” mating all over my fruit, ripe or not. I’ve still got quite a few beautifully colored Bell Peppers that I’m in the process of harvesting right now. They got on the peppers after the tomatoes were gone, but not nearly so many, and I was very diligent about keeping them off. But, you know you can’t be everywhere all the time.
I sure would like to reap something out of a whole years work–from seed, but I don’t want to
poison my family.
Any advice would be appreciated. I don’t see a place to post imagines, but Thank You
We are not chemists and we cannot adequately answer your request, but to the best of our knowledge, though the fruit might be unsightly and perhaps taste bad, it is not considered toxic to humans. You may submit images using the Ask What’s That Bug? link on our site.
P.S. You have already submitted images to our site: https://www.whatsthatbug.com/category/true-bugs/leaf-footed-bugs/
These are Bamboo Coreid Bugs or Notobitus meleagris
Thank you so much for your identification. We often request information on plants upon which insects are found, and we should have recognized the bamboo in the provided image. Searching with those key words, we located another member of the genus, Notobitus sexguttatus, in this FlickR posting.
how do you get rid of these things? They are all over my vegetables and my lemon tree.
I found 3 small pearly looking eggs on my Dutchman’s Pipeline plant. Curiosity got me and I hatched them in a container. A day before they emerged , the eggs turned a beautiful golden color. I believe these bugs are Big legged Bugs or Leaf footed Bug. Thank you for your site. My bugs are red and very dainty at this time.
not Pipeline. ha ha ha Pipeline plant. Sorry
We have a lot of pomegranate bushes and fruit. We just shoo them off when we harvest. I don’t see anything wrong that they are doing beside eating bitter skin that I am going to throw in the trash. Anyway, my question is why do they go inside of the fruit? My husband and I have a few theories.
We have no experience with Leaf Footed Bugs entering the fruit, unless you are talking about fruit that splits open, which allows easier access to the succulent fruit.
Helpful, thx.
I have several of these crawling around the ceilings of my open-air front porch and attached carport. They never seem to bother my plants, and there are plenty to choose from, both in pots and in a flower bed right next to the front porch; but I don’t have any agave plants, or anything close to them. I do have milkweed, and I’ve seen Milkweed Assassin bugs from time to time on those particular plants; however, we witnessed a darker-colored Assassin bug sucking/eating the contents of a fairly new wasp nest. Is this common…are they all looking for wasp nests to devour?
We would need to research this matter.
Upon further research, I have concluded that the bugs are not Assassin bugs, after all. They are the Leaf Footed (or Big Footed) bugs. However, I am still unable to figure out why they aren’t on any of my plants, and eating wasp larvae.