Clickable Guide

Interactive image map to choose major taxa

Calendar

Upcoming Events

National Moth Week was July 19-27, and the Summer 2025 gathering in Louisiana, July 19-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Pentatomomorpha » Leatherbugs (Coreoidea) » Leaf-footed Bugs (Coreidae) » Coreinae » Hypselonotini » Squash Bugs (Anasa) » Squash Bug (Anasa tristis)

Species Anasa tristis - Squash Bug

Squash Bug nymphs - Anasa tristis? - Anasa tristis

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Infraorder Pentatomomorpha

Superfamily Coreoidea (Leatherbugs)

Family Coreidae (Leaf-footed Bugs)

Subfamily Coreinae

Tribe Hypselonotini

Genus Anasa (Squash Bugs)

Species tristis (Squash Bug)

Explanation of Names

Anasa tristis (De Geer 1773)

tristis 'sad'

Size

adult 14‒16 mm

Identification

Adults mottled dark gray to blackish above except pale medial line on head, pale lateral edges of pronotum, connexivium with equally-spaced pale patches.

Range

transcontinental, BC‒NB to Brazil(1)(2)

Food

Hosts: Cucurbitaceae (prefers pumpkin and squash)

Life Cycle

Eggs laid in clusters of ~20, usually on the undersides of leaves; lifecycle completes in 6‒8 weeks; one generation in the north, two or more in the south.

life stages:

Remarks

the most injurious coreid in FL(3), causes wilting/blackening of leaves; can transmit cucurbit yellow vine disease

Trichopoda pennipes is a notable parasite (lays eggs on adults)

Internet References

Fact sheet (Capinera 2017)(4)

Works Cited

1.	Checklist of the Hemiptera of Canada and Alaska Maw, H.E.L., R.G. Foottit, K.G.A. Hamilton and G.G.E. Scudder. 2000. NRC Research Press.

2.	Catalog of the Coreidae, or Leaf-Footed Bugs, of the New World Richard Packauskas. 2010. Fort Hays State University.

3.	Coreidae of Florida (Hemiptera, Heteroptera). Baranowski, R.M. and J.A. Slater. 1986. Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas. Vol. 12, no. 630. viii + 82 pp.

4.	University of Florida: Featured Creatures

Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason on 31 July, 2006 - 6:50pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 21 August, 2024 - 8:54pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version