Leaffooted Bugs
Coreidae
- Adult: related to stinkbugs but longer, dark with parallel sides. Three species attack tomato in Florida, two of which have leaf-shaped hind tibia (lower leg).
- Egg: metallic and ovate but somewhat flattened laterally; laid linearly or in clusters.
- Nymph: oblong in shape, red, especially on abdomen, wings not fully developed.
- Damage: punctures which later become surrounded by discolored zone due to invasion of secondary pathogens. Damaged fruit may also become distorted.
Leaffooted Bug Pictures
Image #20. Leaffooted bugs - are not usually common but can be locally abundant -
a) eggs are usually metallic and deposited on foliage or stems;
b) nymphs are unlike adults and are usually reddish-orange;
c) adult of a common species with flattened hind tibia, but not all species have this characteristic; d) feeding on fruit with piercing-sucking mouthparts causes pitting, distortion and discoloration.
