Order: Hemiptera
Family: Coreidae
Genus: Leptoglossus
Leptoglossus phyllopus belongs to the family Coreidae, commonly known as the Leaf-Footed Bugs, named for their leafy-looking hind tibiae (1). When handled, these bugs give off a distinct odor from scent glands on their thorax. Leptoglossus phyllopus is dark brown with a distinctive white band across the wings when at rest (2). It feeds on the tender shoots, buds, and fruits of a variety of plants, it can be a pest to some fruit and nut crops (3). Several parasitoid wasps attack L. phyllopus, and their eggs are eaten by ants and crickets (4). L. phyllopus is common in the eastern half of the United States and in southern California (3). This species was found on a flower in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens of the Duke University campus.
Leptoglossus phyllopus – Eastern Leaf-footed Bug
Leptoglossus phyllopus – Side view
Leptoglossus phyllopus -Close up of the head
Leptoglossus phyllopus – Close up of the enlarged hind tibia, or “leaf foot”
Leptoglossus phyllopus on Bugguide.net
Leptoglossus phyllopus on Wikipedia
Sources
(2) Arnett, R.H., American Insects: A handbook of the insects of America North of Mexico, (1985), New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.
(3) Cranshaw, W., Garden Insects of North America: The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs, (2004), Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
(4) Abudulai, M., B.M. Shepard, & P.L. Mitchell, Parasitism and predation on eggs of Leptoglossus phyllopus (L.) (Hemiptera: Coreidae) in cowpea: Impact of endosulfan sprays, Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology, vol.18, (2001), pp. 105-115.
