Leaf-footed bug nymph (likely squash bug nymph)

Found on plant leaves and stems, especially squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, and other garden crops; commonly sheltered beneath foliage.

Pierces plant tissues with sucking mouthparts and drinks sap from leaves, stems, and developing fruit. Nymphs and adults may cause wilting, spotting, or fruit damage.

Nymphs are often dark, clustered, and relatively slow-moving; they molt through several stages before adulthood. Adults overwinter in plant debris and become active in warm weather.

Generally harmless to humans and not medically significant. They can weaken garden plants and reduce fruit quality, though they are also part of the food web for spiders, birds, and predatory insects.