Leaf-footed bug (likely squash bug)

Vegetable gardens, fields, and woodland edges, especially on squash, pumpkin, and other cucurbits.

Nymphs and adults suck sap from stems, leaves, and fruits using piercing-sucking mouthparts. They commonly feed on cucurbits and occasionally other plants.

Adults overwinter in plant debris and emerge in spring; females lay clustered eggs on leaves. They are active climbers and fliers, often releasing a strong odor when disturbed.

They can wilt plants, scar fruit, and transmit or facilitate plant diseases, making them garden pests. They are generally harmless to people and serve as prey for birds, spiders, and predatory insects.