Leaffooted

Leaffooted is a common name for a group of true bugs in the family Coreidae. Members of this group are characterized by a distinctive leaf-like expansion on the hind legs (tibiae) of many species, a feature that gives the group its name. They are generally elongate insects and vary in size, often with patterned bodies and four-segment antennae.

Leaffooted bugs occur worldwide, with many species in the Americas and several others established in Europe and Asia through natural range expansion or human activity. They inhabit a range of environments, including forests, grasslands, orchards, and agricultural landscapes, where they feed on seeds, fruits, and other plant tissues. Adults and nymphs may be found on a variety of host plants, from trees to herbaceous crops.

Ecology and behavior: Leaffooted bugs feed primarily by piercing plant tissues with a beak-like rostrum to suck sap. Nymphs resemble adults but are smaller and lack fully developed leaf-like hind legs. Many species are somewhat mobile and may congregate on preferred hosts; some are attracted to light sources at night. Reproduction involves eggs laid on plant surfaces, with several nymphal instars before reaching adulthood.

Economic relevance: Several species are considered agricultural pests, capable of causing cosmetic damage to fruits and vegetables or occasional yield losses. Management strategies are typically crop- and species-specific, ranging from habitat management and monitoring to targeted chemical controls when necessary.

Notable species include Leptoglossus occidentalis, the pine seed bug, and Leptoglossus zonatus, the leaf-footed plant bug, both of which have become well known outside their native ranges.