Giant Spine-headed Bug (Acanthocephala declivis)
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This insect is the largest member of the leaf-footed bugs found in our area. It is characterized by the very pronounced shoulder humps and the white dusting that is especially strong around the head. The common name, spine-headed, comes from a translation of the Latin genus, and there are three different species encountered in the Garden. Although the Giant spine-headed bug is not the most common, it is certainly the most odiferous, and can be smelled from a distance of a couple of feet. These bugs feed on plant juices, but are often not numerous enough to do major damage.
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True bugs pass through five different stages, or instars, between hatching and adulthood. The characteristic "dusty" look of the adult is already quite prominent on the 4th instar shown above. The much smaller 2nd instar pictured below has not yet lost its glossy appearance.
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class: Insecta / order: Hemiptera / family: Coreidae / genus: Acanthocephala / species: declivis
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