About Leptoglossus phyllopus (Linnaeus, 1767)
Leptoglossus phyllopus, commonly known as the eastern leaf-footed bug, is a species of leaf-footed bug that belongs to the same genus as the western conifer seed bug (L. occidentalis).
This species can be found throughout the southern United States, ranging from Florida to California, across Mexico, and extending as far south as Costa Rica. It is a common garden insect that may damage a wide variety of crops, including cotton, peaches, and tomatoes, as well as seed crops such as beans, black-eyed peas, and sorghum.
Like other related bugs, L. phyllopus feeds by sucking plant juices after puncturing plants with its specialized sucking mouthparts. This feeding method makes the species resistant to ingested pesticides. When piercing plant tissue, the bug injects a toxin into the plant, which causes discoloration and hard spots to form on fruits. Adult eastern leaf-footed bugs are highly resistant to pesticides, but they are vulnerable during their bright orange nymph life stage.
Several control methods are effective for this species. Trap crops can be used to lure the bugs away from desirable plants and encourage the growth of predator populations. In small garden plots, handpicking, the use of trap crops, and bug traps baited with methyl (E, Z)-2,4-decadienoate are all effective control measures. Male eastern leaf-footed bugs produce acetosyringone, which the species uses in its communication system. When handled, Leptoglossus phyllopus emits a foul odor.
