Goatweed Leafwing vs Squash Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Goatweed Leafwing Squash Bug
Scientific Name Anaea andria Anasa tristis
Order Lepidoptera Hemiptera
Family Nymphalidae Coreidae
Size 55-75 mm wingspan 14-18 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Dung Feeders Sap Feeders
Regions Central and Eastern United States, northern Mexico North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Goatweed Leafwing

A bright orange butterfly whose angular wing shape and mottled brown underside create a perfect dead-leaf disguise when at rest. It almost never visits flowers.

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Did You Know?

It overwinters as an adult, hiding among dead leaves where its camouflage makes it virtually invisible.

Squash Bug

A flat, dark grayish-brown bug that is a major pest of squash and pumpkin plants. When crushed, it emits a distinctly unpleasant odor similar to stink bugs.

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Did You Know?

Squash bugs inject toxic saliva while feeding that causes a condition called anasa wilt, which can kill entire squash vines within days of a heavy infestation.