Diet

• Adults: Feed by piercing plant tissues with their straw-like mouthparts and sucking plant sap from leaves, stems, buds and developing fruits.

• Nymphs: Also feed on plant juices and generally remain associated with suitable host plants throughout their development.

Range

• Acanthocephala alata is a leaf-footed bug (Coreidae) in the subfamily Coreinae, tribe Acanthocephalini, genus Acanthocephala.

• The species occurs in Mexico and Central America, particularly in tropical and subtropical environments.

• It is occasionally sighted in Zihua, where suitable tropical vegetation provides habitat.

• Its relatively large size makes it conspicuous when encountered, although its brown colouration can provide excellent camouflage among branches and dried vegetation.

Habitat

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

• Adults and nymphs are usually found on shrubs, vines and trees, particularly where young shoots, flowers or developing fruits are present.

• In Zihua, check stems and branches as well as leaves, since these bugs can remain motionless and blend into the vegetation.

• Adults may also occasionally be attracted to lights at night.

Size

• Adult length: approximately 15–25 mm (0.6–1.0 in).

• Body elongated and robust, with the characteristic expanded hind tibiae of leaf-footed bugs.

• Generally brown, reddish-brown or dark brown, sometimes with contrasting lighter markings.

• The head and thorax bear prominent spines and angular projections, giving Acanthocephala its distinctive “spine-headed” appearance.