Annotated Key To Leaffooted Bugs, Leptoglossus Spp., In Florida

Leaffooted bugs are conspicuous insects (usually 5/8 to one inch long) that make a buzzing sound in flight, and often are numerous (sometimes in colonies) on a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds, ordinarily these bugs are considered minor economic pests, but sometimes large numbers accumulate, causing economic damage. Feeding on citrus, peaches, and other fruits may result in fruit drop or distorted, undersized, poor quality fruits with blemishes; also, feeding results in punctures that allow pathogens to enter and cause rotting, the most abundant and important species of Leptoglossus in Florida is the leaffooted bug, L. Phyllopus (Linnaeus). Additional information on L. Phyllopus may be obtained tn Circular No. 107 by Mead (1971). Much information below has been extracted from the revision by Allen ( 1969).