Leaf-footed bug (most likely squash bug or a close relative)

Natural Habitat

Agricultural fields, gardens, and areas with host plants such as Cucurbitaceae (squash, pumpkins, melons, cucumbers).

Diet & Feeding

Strictly herbivorous. They feed on plant sap by piercing plant tissues with their needle-like mouthparts (proboscis). Squash bugs specifically feed on squash, pumpkins, gourds, and other cucurbits, causing wilting, yellowing, and eventual plant death by injecting toxins and sucking sap.

Behavior Patterns

Adults and nymphs feed on leaves, stems, and fruit. They often aggregate on the undersides of leaves or around the base of plants. Females lay clusters of reddish-brown eggs, usually on the undersides of leaves. Overwinter as adults in debris or under bark and become active in spring.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include significant economic damage to cucurbit crops in gardens and agriculture due to their feeding, which can stunt plant growth, cause fruits to be malformed or fail to develop, and lead to plant death. There are no known direct benefits to humans or the ecosystem, as they are considered pests.

Identified on: 9/11/2025