Leaf-footed Bug

Natural Habitat

Gardens, orchards, woodlands, and fields; they often seek shelter inside homes during colder months.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant juices from fruits, seeds, and stems.

Behavior Patterns

Active during the day; notable for the leaf-like expansions on their hind legs and for releasing a foul-smelling odor when disturbed as a defense mechanism.

Risks & Benefits

They are considered a minor agricultural pest as their feeding can cause spotting or shriveling in fruit and seeds. They are harmless to humans but can be a nuisance when they enter homes to overwinter.

Identified on: 2/4/2026