At first glance, this insect might be mistaken for a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. It is, however, a native species, a Magnolia Leaf-footed Bug (Leptoglossus fulvicornis). Because it feeds almost exclusively on trees in the genus Magnolia, and because the three members of the genus native to the lower Susquehanna valley, Umbrella Magnolia (M. tripetala), Cucumber Tree (M. acuminata), and Sweetbay (M. virginiana), each have a very limited distribution here, this insect’s presence in the watershed is largely dependent on widespread introductions of ornamental magnolias and native transplants including Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). Adult Magnolia Leaf-footed Bugs overwinter in leaf litter beneath the host trees. In spring, females lay their eggs in rows along the midrib of the leaves where they are often victims of parasitoid wasps including Gyron pennsylvanicum. The surviving nymphs and the adults feed on the tree’s leaves and fruits, causing little harm to its overall health.
