Leaf-footed bugs (Coreidae)

Host plants and damage. Coreids are recognized as significant pests of various agricultural crops, including legumes, cereals, cucurbits, and fruit trees. Both nymphs and adults feed by inserting their piercing-sucking mouthparts into the plant tissues to extract sap, often targeting developing fruits, seeds, and stems.

Biology and life cycle. Most species in this family overwinter as adults in protected locations such as leaf litter, brush, or debris near crop fields. As temperatures rise in spring, they migrate to host plants to mate and oviposit. Their lifecycle involves incomplete metamorphosis, with several nymphal stages that resemble the adults but lack fully developed wings.

Character of injury. The feeding process introduces saliva into the plant, which may contain enzymes causing tissue necrosis and malformation. On fruit crops, feeding typically leads to pitting, scarring, and the development of internal blemishes, which significantly reduces the marketability and quality of the harvest.

Control measures. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies are essential for controlling leaf-footed bug populations effectively:

• Removing alternate hosts and weeds from field perimeters to reduce breeding sites.
• Maintaining field hygiene by destroying crop residues after harvest.
• Using row covers for high-value vegetables in small-scale farming.
• Applying targeted insecticides only when scouting confirms that economic thresholds are exceeded.