Leaf†Footed Bugs - Publications and Educational Resources

2010 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 3012-1522

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Leaf‐FootedBugs

ThomasKuhar,JamesJenrette,andHélèneDoughtyDepartmentofEntomology,VirginiaTech

Order:HemipteraFamily:CoreidaeSpecies:Leptoglossusphyllopus(L.)andL.opposites(Say)

Fig.1.AdultLeptoglossusopposites.

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Introduction:Leaf‐footedbugsaremoderatelylargebugsinthegenusLeptoglossus(Family:Coreidae);whicharedistinguishedbytheunusualflatteningofthehindtibiawhichresemblesaleaf,hencethecommonname.Therearetwocommonspeciesofleaf‐footedbugsfoundinVirginia,Leptoglossusopposites(Fig.1)andL.phyllopus(Fig2).Bothspeciesaresimilarintheirbiology,andbothareconsideredapestofmanytypesofcrops,includingfruit,fruitingvegetables,nuts,andornamentals.Thepiercingsuckinginjurycausedbytheirfeedingisverysimilartothatofstinkbugs(Hemiptera:Pentatomidae).Underheavypestinfestations,seriousinjurycanoccurtothefruitingbodiesofcrops,oftenresultinginanunmarketableproduct.

Fig.2.AdultLeptoglossusphyllopus. Description:TheadultsofbothL.oppositesandL.phyllopushaveaflat,chocolatetodarkbrownbodywithgreytomediumbrownsides,andrangeinsizefrom⅝to¾inchesinlength.ThebodyisV‐shapedincrosssection.L.phyllopushasawhitetopaleyellowstraightbroadbandacrossthewingcovers(Fig2).WhileL.opposituslackstheband,smallwhitespotsmayappearonsomeindividuals(Fig1).Bothofthesespecieswillexudeafoulsmellingliquidifdisturbed.

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Fig.3.Leaf‐footedbugeggmass. Theeggsareagoldenbrownandarelaidinasinglerowalongastemorleafmidrib(Fig.3).Theyaresomewhatcylindrical,flattenedontheundersidesandattheends,andarelaidcloselyend‐to‐end.Thenymphshaveblacklegswhiletheirbodiesrangeincolorfromorangetoreddishbrown(Fig.4).Theyhave5instarsindevelopment.Theleaf‐likehindtibiadoesnotdevelopuntilthelatterinstarsatwhichtimetheyalsodeveloptheiradultcoloration.

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Fig.4.Leaf‐footedbugnymphsoncorn.DistributionandLifeCycle:BothL.oppositesandL.phyllopusarecommonintheeasternandsoutheasternstates,andwillextendasfarnorthasNewYorkandasfarwestasMissouri.Thereareseveralgenerationsperyear.Theadultsoverwinterinthewoodsorinleafdebris,emerginginlatespringtofeedonvariousweedhosts.Theylayeggs,whichhatchin5‐7days.Leaf‐footedbugnymphshavecommonlybeenfoundonthistle,Cirsiumspp.,orothersucculentplants.InVirginia,thenymphshavebeenobservedonnightshade,Atropaspp.,corn,andtrees.Thenymphsusuallyrequire25‐30daystomature.Damage:Leptoglossusspeciesfeedonfoliartissueandfruitbypiercingtheselectedplanttissuewiththeirproboscisandsuckingthejuices.Thesalivaofleaf‐footedbugscontainsatoxicsecretion,whichfurtherinjuresplanttissue.Theymaycausewiltinganddeathofleavesanddeformationandlossoffruit.Feedingonfruitwithpiercing‐suckingmouthpartscausespitting,distortionanddiscoloration.Puncturingoffruitalsoallowssecondarypathogenstoenterandcauserotting.Someofthecropswhichmaybeaffectedarecitrusfruits,pecans,apple,beans,bellpepper,blueberry,blackberry,corn,cucurbits,eggplant,peach,pear,plum,squash,andtomatoamongothers.Althoughleaf‐footedbugsfeedonalargenumberoffruitsandcropplants,theyareseldomconsideredamajorpestinthesoutheastbecauseofnormallylowconcentrationsofinsects.Howeveronoccasion,theseinsectswillmigrateinmasstoimmaturecropsorfruitsandcausesignificantdamage.Theyalsodisplayahabitofaggregatingintolargecolonies,whichwillresultinhugenumbersononetreewhilenonemayappearontheadjoiningtree.

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Fig.5.Leaf‐footedbugfeedinginjurytotomato.

Fig.6.Leaf‐footedbugfeedinginjurytoblueberry.Photos by Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org.

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ManagementChemicalcontrol:Insecticidesshouldtargetthenymphandadultstages.Veryfewinsecticideswillkilltheeggsofthispest.Formostfruitandvegetablecrops,awiderangeofinsecticidesprovidecontrolincludingpyrethroids(i.e.,cyfluthin,bifenthrin,lambda‐cyhalothrin,cypermethrin,permethrin,esfenvalerate,etc.),carbamates(carbaryl,methomyl,oxamyl),organophosphates(suchasacephate),andneonicotinoids(i.e.,imidacloprid,thiamethoxam,dinotefuran,acetamiprid,andclothianidin).Additionally,anumberofinsecticideproductsareavailableasmixturesofsomeofthesedifferentmaterials.Culturalcontrol:Mowingweedsandmaintainingvegetationinandaroundfieldsanddestroyingcropdebriswillhelpreduceleaf‐footedbugnymphalsurvivalaswellasreduceoverwinteringsitesforadults.Inhomegardensettings,theinsectsandeggmassescanberemovedmanuallyanddestroyed.Biologicalcontrol:Comparedwithsoft‐bodiedpestssuchasaphidsandcaterpillars,relativelyfewnaturalenemiesattackthisbug.However,adultleaf‐footedbugsareparasitizedbycertaintachinidfliessuchasTrichopodapennipes(Fabricus),T.plumipes(Fabricus).ReferencesCapinera,J.L.2001.HandbookofVegetablePests.AcademicPress,NewYork.Mead,F.W.(2010,August)Featuredcreatures,Circular107.EENY‐72.RetrievedNov.3,2010fromhttp://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/leaffooted‐bug.htm