Leptoglossus phyllopus

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Leptoglossus phyllopus or eastern leaf-footed bug is a species of leaf-footed bugs in the same genus as the western conifer seed bug (L. occidentalis). The eastern leaf-footed bug is found throughout the southern United States, from Florida to California, through Mexico, and as far south as Costa Rica.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

These bugs are a common garden insect which may damage a wide variety of crops including cotton, peaches and tomatoes, and seeds such as beans, black-eyed peas and sorghum.<ref>https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/leaffooted-bug/ Leaffooted Bug, Field Guide to Common Texas Insects</ref> Like other bugs L. phyllopus suck juices from plants by puncturing them with their sucking mouth parts, making them resistant to ingested pesticides. A toxin is injected into the plant when piercing its skin, causing discoloration and hard spots on fruits.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The adult bugs are highly resistant to pesticides; however, they are vulnerable in their bright orange nymph stage. Trap crops can be used to lure them away from desired plants and to encourage predator populations,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and in small garden plots handpicking, the use of trap crops, and bug traps baited with methyl (E, Z)-2,4-decadienoate can be effective controls.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Acetosyringone is produced by the male leaffooted bug and used in its communication system.<ref>Acetosyringone on www.pherobase.com, the pheromones data base</ref><ref>Male specific natural products in the bug, Leptoglossus phyllopus: Chemistry and possible function. J.R. Aldrich, M.S. Blum, S.S. Duffey and H.M. Fales, Journal of Insect Physiology, Volume 22, Issue 9, 1976, Pages 1201-1206 {{#invoke:CS1 identifiers|main|_template=doi}}</ref><ref>Species-specific natural products of adult male leaf-footed bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). J. R. Aldrich, M. S. Blum and H. M. Fales, Journal of Chemical Ecology, Volume 5, Number 1, 53-62, {{#invoke:CS1 identifiers|main|_template=doi}}</ref> Leptoglossus phyllopus emits a foul odor when it is handled<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>