The Dock Leaf Bug (Coreus marginatus) is a medium-sized insect in the Coreide family of squash bugs and leaf-footed bugs. It is also known as the Brown Squash Bug. 

The adult Dock Leaf Bug is light mottled brown with a broad oval abdomen. Its lower abdomen has a lighter amber-brown, oval-shaped marking. At the front of its head, it has two thorns, called antenniferous tubercles, between its dark-tipped, four-segmented antennae. Other squash bugs don’t have these thorns. 

Its life cycle is egg, nymph, and adult. The female lays eggs on leaves, which hatch after 21-28 days. The eggs hatch into juveniles called nymphs, which do not look like their parents. 

The juvenile Dock Leaf Bug is heavily spined with large antennae. It is green and turns brown as it matures. As it changes colour, it looks blotchy green and brown. As it ages, it begins to look more like its parents, but it lacks developed wings. When it is an adult, it has wings. 

It is common across Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. It prefers dense vegetation. 

Location: Paris, France

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM