12 Green Bugs that Look Like Leaves

Suyash is a Master Gardener and the Editorial and Strategy Director at BalconyGardenWeb.com. With a focus on houseplant care, he combines over a decade of hands-on horticultural experience with editorial expertise to guide and educate plant enthusiasts.
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Are you aware of Green Bugs that Look Like Leaves? These are nature’s disguise artists and might surprise you with their looks!

Green Bugs that Look Like Leaves – These are not characters from a science fiction story, but real-life insects that mimic leaves so impeccably, you might just overlook them while admiring your garden. Let’s learn more about these marvels of natural camouflage!

Check out Tiny White Bugs on Plants that Look like Dust here


Green Bugs that Look Like Leaves

1. Mantis

Green Bugs that Look Like Leaves 1

Scientific Name: Mantis religiosa

Are they beneficial for gardens: Yes

Some species of praying mantis are known for their leaf-like appearance, with flattened, green bodies and wing patterns that imitate leaf veins.

This allows them to blend seamlessly into foliage, escaping the attention of predators and aiding in ambush hunting.

Read Praying Mantis Facts + What Do Praying Mantis Eat here

2. Treehoppers

riveredgenaturecenter

Scientific Name: Membracidae

Are they beneficial for gardens: No

Treehoppers have pronotums (the first segment of the thorax) that can resemble thorns, leaves, or even plant buds. The leaf-like pronotums allow them to blend in with the plant material they are feeding on.

3. Leaf-Wing Bugs

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mydecorative

Scientific Name: Coreidae

Are they beneficial for gardens: No

Named for their obvious leaf-like appearance, these green bugs that look like leaves use their shape and coloration to resemble dead or living leaves, thereby deceiving predators.

4. Leaf-Mimic Katydids

Scientific Name: Microcentrum rhombifolium

Are they beneficial for gardens: No

These insects have wings that not only look like leaves but also have intricate patterns that resemble leaf veins, making them excellent mimics of their green surroundings.

Check Tiny Bugs in House Near Windows here

5. Leaf Grasshopper

Green Bugs that Look Like Leaves 5
wikipedia

Scientific Name: Phyllochoreia ramakrishnai

Are they beneficial for gardens: No

As the name suggests, these grasshoppers bear an uncanny resemblance to leaves, both in shape and color. These green bugs that look like leaves sport intricate vein-like patterns on their wings and body, perfectly replicating the look of a living or even a decaying leaf.

6. Leaf Insect

lifeofbugs

Scientific Name: Phylliidae

Are they beneficial for gardens: No

Commonly known as “walking leaves,” these are perhaps the most famous leaf mimics. They have flat, veined bodies and move in a way that resembles a leaf swaying in the wind.

7. Stick Insect

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wikipedia

Scientific Name: Phasmatodea

Are they beneficial for gardens: No

Also known as stick insects, some Phasmid species have evolved to more closely resemble leaves than sticks, with broad, flattened bodies and a leaf-like appearance.

Check Tiny Black Bugs that Look Like Poppy Seeds here

8. Leafhoppers

mvtimes

Scientific Name: Cicadellidae

Are they beneficial for gardens: No

These small insects often have a wedge-shaped body that can resemble a leaf or leaf bud. Their green or brown coloring also adds to the resemblance, providing a form of camouflage.

9. Katydid nymphs

Green Bugs that Look Like Leaves 9
cambridgeday

Scientific Name: Pterophylla camellifolia

Are they beneficial for gardens: No

In their early life stages, katydid nymphs often have a form and coloration similar to leaves, which allows these green bugs that look like leaves to hide effectively from predators.

10. Bush Cricket

kidadl

Scientific Name: Tettigoniidae viridissima

Are they beneficial for gardens: No

These are different from Leaf-Mimic Katydids and are generally larger. They often mimic entire leaves, right down to simulated damage spots and browning edges, making them indistinguishable from real leaves.

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11. Alderflies

Green Bugs that Look Like Leaves 11
pondinformer

Scientific Name: Sialidae

Are they beneficial for gardens: No

One of the more leaf-like features of alderflies is the intricate venation in their wings, which can mimic the veins seen in leaves. This veining, combined with the wing’s coloration, can create an appearance similar to that of a dead leaf, especially when the alderfly is at rest.

12. False Katydid

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Scientific Name: Scudderia spp.

Are they beneficial for gardens: No

The most stunning feature is their wings, which not only share the color of leaves but often also mimic the intricate vein patterns. Some even display simulated ‘damage,’ like holes or irregular edges, further enhancing their resemblance to genuine leaves.

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Note: While some of the insects on the list, such as mantises, can be considered beneficial for gardens due to their predatory nature (they eat other insects), the majority of the insects mentioned are not typically considered beneficial for gardens. In fact, some, like leafhoppers and certain katydids, can be pests for plants.

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