The giant leaf-footed bug (Acanthocephala declivis), is a strikingly large insect found throughout parts of North America. This bug gets its name from its distinctively shaped hind legs, which resemble leaves and are used to camouflage it in its environment. The body of this insect is typically brown or gray and is about an inch in length. This species has a pronotum, a place that covers the thorax that extends to the abdominal region. It also has dull tubercles and rounded nodules in the middle of the pronotum. Giant leaf-footed bugs feed on the sap of various plants, and they can sometimes be a pest to agricultural crops such as tomatoes and citrus. While they may not harm humans, these bugs can be quite a nuisance when they invade homes and gardens.
Photo Credit: Aymee Laurain
