Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Acanthocephala thomasi - Giant Agave Bug

Agave Sucking Bug - Acanthocephala thomasi Giant Agave Bug - Acanthocephala thomasi Giant Agave Bug Nymph - Acanthocephala thomasi Leaf-footed Bug - Acanthocephala thomasi Giant Agave Bug - Acanthocephala thomasi Giant Agave Bug - Acanthocephala thomasi Giant Agave Bug - Acanthocephala thomasi Agave Bug - Acanthocephala thomasi
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Family Coreidae (Leaffooted Bugs)
Genus Acanthocephala
Species thomasi (Giant Agave Bug)
Size
30 mm
Identification
Apical segment of antennae bright orange, and remaining segments dark gray to black; flange on hind tibia parallel-sided and extending the length of tibia; humeral angles relatively small (NOT greatly expanded as in A. declivis); this combination of 3 characters is diagnostic.
Males have greatly swollen hind femora bearing at least one large spike; females have slender hind femora bearing several small spikes.
Range
Texas, Arizona, California
Season
Spring and summer
Food
Feeds on juice of the Agave plant, according to this site. Also feeds on legumes (1).
Remarks
Does not occur in eastern North America.
See Also
A. declivis is similar but has huge humeral angles; A. femorata has entirely pale reddish antennae - not black with an orange tip; A. confraterna and A. terminalis have a wavy and tapered flange on the hind tibia - not parallel-sided along the length of the tibia.
Print References
Olson, #30--color photograph (1)
Internet References
live adult male and nymph images plus common name reference (Peter Clausen, Arizona)
live adult female image (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County)
Works Cited
1.50 Common Insects of the Southwest
By Carl E. Olson