Family: Coreidae, Leaf-footed Bugs view all from this family

Description 5/8" (15-17 mm). Dark to pale grayish brown above, pale below. Sides of abdomen are orangish or striped with orange or dark brown. Wing tips reddish-brown. Hind tibiae cylindrical, not leaflike. Nymphs are green with pink antennae and legs; often coated with powder.

Food Juices of cultivated cucumber, squash, melon, pumpkin, and other gourds.

Life Cycle Shiny, somewhat 3-sided eggs are laid singly or in groups of 15-50 below leaves or on stems. Feeding nymphs cause leaves to wilt, blacken, and dry to a crisp. Adults overwinter among withered leaves.

Habitat Crop fields and gardens.

Range Throughout North America.

Discussion Since adults require the shelter of debris to survive frost, infestations can often be reduced by gathering up and burning all refuse after the harvest.