Stats

Lifespan: A few months
Size: Large
Diet: Herbivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Subtropical forest
Range: North America
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Camouflage
Status: Common

About

A large, dark brown true bug named for the flattened, leaf-like widenings on its hind legs, which it waves to startle predators. It feeds on plant sap through a needle-like beak and is common in gardens and on ornamental shrubs across the southern United States.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2.
juvenile
An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3.
subadult
A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4.
adult
Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Coreidae
Genus: Acanthocephala
Species: Acanthocephala declivis