Acanthocephala declivis is a species of North American true bugs. The Hemiptera, or true bugs, are an order of insects comprising some 50,000 to 80,000 species of groups such as t
he cicadas, aphids, plant hoppers, leafhoppers, and shield bugs. They range in size from 0.04 to 6 inches, and share a common arrangement of sucking mouthparts. These mouthparts allow for the insects to suck sap and juices from plant material. A. declivis are in the family Coreidae and get their name from the small leaf-like enlargements found on the hind leg. They are closely related to other sucking insects, such as stink bugs (family Pentatomidae) that can also suck juices from plants. Their distribution range extends from the Southern United States to Guatemala, including some Caribbean islands. The giant leaf-footed bug is the largest of this genus within this range, generally growing to be 1.1 to 1.3 inches long. It can be distinguished from similar species by its much more broadly expanding pronotum (the foremost part of its thorax closest to its head), which e
xtends much further than the abdomen.
iNaturalist observation.
A. declivis info.