Leaffooted bugs are a type of insect that can damage fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other plants in your garden, including Barbados cherry. They’re named for the small, flattened parts on their back legs that look like leaves.

What they look like

• Adults: About 0.75 to 1 inch long, narrow brown bodies. Some have a white zigzag pattern on their wings.
• Eggs: Brown, cylindrical, laid in rows on stems or leaves.
• Nymphs: Small, red or orange, with dark heads and legs. They grow to resemble adults but without their wings. Be careful! Leaffooted bug nymphs can look like beneficial assassin bug nymphs, which have lighter legs and antennae.

What they do

Leaffooted bugs use their long, sharp mouthparts to pierce plants and suck out their juices. This can damage fruits, making them discolored or misshapen, or even cause them to drop off the plant.

Where they live

• Adults spend winter in sheltered spots like woodpiles or under tree bark.
• In spring, they come out to feed on weeds and then move to gardens as fruits ripen.

Control

You can manage leaffooted bugs using a few methods:

• Remove Hiding Spots: Get rid of weeds and debris where they hide in winter.
• Physical Removal: Handpick bugs and drop them into soapy water. Wear gloves, as they can smell bad.
• Natural Enemies: Attract birds, spiders, and beneficial insects like assassin bugs, which eat leaffooted bugs.
• Insecticides (Last Resort): Only use insecticides if infestations are severe, and focus on nymphs, as adults are harder to kill and many insecticides can harm helpful insects like bees. Insecticidal soap or botanicals, such as neem oil or pyrethrin, may only provide some control of young nymphs.

Remember: It’s best to try safe, natural methods first and use chemicals only when absolutely necessary.

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