A number of species of coreid bug (e.g., Leptoglossus phyllopus of North America and L. membranaceus of Australia) have enlarged or flattened extensions on their legs, hence the common name leaf-footed bug. These insects suck plant juices from crops such as peas, beans, potatoes, and tomatoes. Leaf-footed bugs spend the winter in the adult stage. In warm climates there may be two generations a year. They may be controlled by insecticides or by the destruction of hibernation spots and alternate host plants.

The box-elder bug (Boisea trivittatus) is dark brown with three longitudinal red lines on the thorax and red veins in the first pair of wings. These coreid bugs feed mostly on box-elder trees. They pass the winter in groups in some dry spot, such as under a porch or inside a house. They can be controlled by spraying. The rice bug (Leptocorisa varicornis) does great damage to rice and millet in the Orient. Other Coreidae are known as gum-tree bugs and crusader bugs, the latter deriving from the pale cross on the wings of the Australian species Mictis profana. The mesquite bug (Thasus acutangulus) of Arizona and New Mexico is one of the largest coreids at 40 mm (1.6 inches) in length.