Diet

• Adults and nymphs: Primarily plant-feeding, using their piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap, developing fruits, seeds and tender shoots.

• Species of Hypselonotus are associated with a variety of plants, and some are known to feed on flowers and developing fruit.

• Their feeding can occasionally cause blemishes, deformation or premature drop of developing fruits, although the economic importance varies among species.

Range

• Hypselonotus is a genus of leaf-footed bugs (Coreidae) in the subfamily Coreinae, tribe Hypselonotini.

• It is primarily Neotropical, with species occurring from Mexico and Central America through South America, as well as parts of the Caribbean.

• They are occasionally sighted in Zihua, where the tropical dry forest and surrounding vegetation provide suitable habitat.

Habitat

• Found in tropical dry forest, tropical deciduous forest, scrub, woodland, forest edges, gardens and agricultural areas.

• Adults are generally found on shrubs, vines and trees, particularly where flowers, fruits or developing seeds are present.

• Around Zihua, look carefully through foliage, flowers and fruiting plants, especially in sunny forest edges and open tropical vegetation.

• Some species can be relatively well camouflaged against stems and dried foliage.

Size

• Adult length: generally around 12–20 mm (0.5–0.8 in), depending on species.

• Body elongated and moderately robust.

• Colouration commonly includes brown, greyish-brown, reddish-brown or greenish tones, sometimes with contrasting markings.

• The hind legs may have expanded or otherwise modified structures, although the degree of enlargement varies among species.

• As with other Coreidae, the antennae are usually long and four-segmented.