Bugland: Foot Fashion

The family of Leaf-Footed Bugs is quite varied. With the Latin name, Coreidae, the bugs are considered cosmopolitan — not in the sense of jetting off to Monaco for the weekend, but meaning they are found all over the world. In North America they are sometimes called Squash Bugs, and in parts of Africa and Australia they get called Twig-Wilters or Tip-Wilters. Their appearance also varies — some are slender, some are broad and oval. The Leaf-Footed Bug shown here certainly appears to be aptly named. Photo by Mark Silverstein