Different species tend to eat from different food sources, though all leaf-footed bugs typically feed on the seeds and fruits of various plants. The pest species has been known to feed on items ranging from tomatoes and pomegranates to numerous nuts, citrus fruits, and ornamental trees and shrubs.

What does leaf-footed bug eat?

Leaffooted bugs are medium to large sized insects that feed on fruits, fruiting vegetables, nuts, and ornamentals. They have piercing-sucking mouthparts that allow them to feed on plant parts, particularly seeds.

What attracts leaf-footed bug?

Some gardeners use a trap crop of large-flowered sunflowers to attract leaffooted bugs away from vegetable crops they are trying to protect. It only takes a dozen or so sunflower plants to do this in an average garden. Adults are attracted to the sunflowers and will lay their eggs and produce nymphs there.