# Leptocoris

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***Leptocoris*** is the largest genus of [bugs](/source/Hemiptera) in the subfamily [Serinethinae](/source/Serinethinae). Species in this genus are distributed throughout Africa, South Asia, and Oceania, and are thought to have originated in Africa, where the greatest diversity of *Leptocoris* species are found.[1][2] Several species are known as **soapberry bugs** in Australia, notably *Leptocoris mitellatus*.[3]

## Description

Members of this genus are large-bodied and have short, wide [pronota](/source/Pronotum); they are similar in appearance to the New World genus *[Jadera](/source/Jadera)* (of which there is no range overlap). *Leptocoris* species can be easily distinguished from the small, slender *[Boisea](/source/Boisea)* (of which there is substantial range overlap). The Australian *[Leptocoris tagalicus](/source/Leptocoris_tagalicus)* has been studied for its ability to rapidly adapt to invasive hosts (e.g. [balloon vine](/source/Cardiospermum)) and is seen as a possible means of biocontrol for environmental weeds.[4][5] The southeast Asian species *[Leptocoris vicinus](/source/Leptocoris_vicinus)* is common in urban settings, although it is frequently misidentified as *[Leptocoris augur](/source/Leptocoris_augur)*.

## Species

The *Coreoidea Species File*[6] lists:

1. *[Leptocoris abdominalis](/source/Leptocoris_abdominalis)*
1. *[Leptocoris aethiops](/source/Leptocoris_aethiops)*
1. *[Leptocoris affinis](/source/Leptocoris_affinis)*
1. *[Leptocoris albisoleata](/source/Leptocoris_albisoleata)*
1. *[Leptocoris amictus](/source/Leptocoris_amictus)*
1. *[Leptocoris augur](/source/Leptocoris_augur)*
1. *[Leptocoris bahram](/source/Leptocoris_bahram)*
1. *[Leptocoris capitis](/source/Leptocoris_capitis)*
1. *[Leptocoris chevreuxi](/source/Leptocoris_chevreuxi)*
1. *[Leptocoris cinnamonensis](/source/Leptocoris_cinnamonensis)*
1. *[Leptocoris corniculatus](/source/Leptocoris_corniculatus)*
1. *[Leptocoris coxalis](/source/Leptocoris_coxalis)*
1. *[Leptocoris dispar](/source/Leptocoris_dispar)*
1. *[Leptocoris griseiventris](/source/Leptocoris_griseiventris)*
1. *[Leptocoris hexophthalmus](/source/Leptocoris_hexophthalmus)*
1. *[Leptocoris insularis](/source/Leptocoris_insularis)*
1. *[Leptocoris intermedius](/source/Leptocoris_intermedius)*
1. *[Leptocoris isolatus](/source/Leptocoris_isolatus)*
1. *[Leptocoris lanuginosus](/source/Leptocoris_lanuginosus)*
1. *[Leptocoris latus](/source/Leptocoris_latus)*
1. *[Leptocoris longiusculus](/source/Leptocoris_longiusculus)*
1. *[Leptocoris marquesensis](/source/Leptocoris_marquesensis)*
1. *[Leptocoris minusculus](/source/Leptocoris_minusculus)*
1. *[Leptocoris mitellatus](/source/Leptocoris_mitellatus)*
1. *[Leptocoris mutilatus](/source/Leptocoris_mutilatus)*
1. *[Leptocoris nigrofasciatus](/source/Leptocoris_nigrofasciatus)*
1. *[Leptocoris obscurus](/source/Leptocoris_obscurus)*
1. *[Leptocoris paramictus](/source/Leptocoris_paramictus)*
1. *[Leptocoris pectoralis](/source/Leptocoris_pectoralis)*
1. *[Leptocoris productus](/source/Leptocoris_productus)*
1. *[Leptocoris rubrolineatus](/source/Leptocoris_rubrolineatus)*
1. *[Leptocoris rufomarginatus](/source/Leptocoris_rufomarginatus)*
1. *[Leptocoris seidenstueckeri](/source/Leptocoris_seidenstueckeri)*
1. *[Leptocoris stehliki](/source/Leptocoris_stehliki)*
1. *[Leptocoris subrufescens](/source/Leptocoris_subrufescens)*
1. *[Leptocoris tagalicus](/source/Leptocoris_tagalicus)*
1. *[Leptocoris teyrovskyi](/source/Leptocoris_teyrovskyi)*
1. *[Leptocoris toricollis](/source/Leptocoris_toricollis)*
1. *[Leptocoris ursulae](/source/Leptocoris_ursulae)*
1. *[Leptocoris verticalis](/source/Leptocoris_verticalis)*
1. *[Leptocoris vicinus](/source/Leptocoris_vicinus)*
1. *[Leptocoris wagneri](/source/Leptocoris_wagneri)*

## References

1. Göllner-Scheiding, U. (1983): General-Katalog der Familie Rhopalidae (Heteroptera). Mitt. Zool. Mus. Berlin 59, 37-189.

1. Göllner-Scheiding, U. (1980): Revision der afrikanischen Arten sowie Bemerkungen zu weiteren Arten der Gattungen Leptocoris Hahn, 1833, und Boisea Kirkaldy, 1910. Dtsch. ent. Z., N.F. 27, 103-148.

1. Hunter, Will (3 March 2025). ["Red bug population explodes due to favourable conditions in South Australia"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-04/red-soapberry-bugs-swarm-south-australia/105002558). *ABC News*. Retrieved 3 March 2025.

1. Carroll, S.P., Loye, J.E., Dingle, H, et al. (2005): Ecology of Leptocoris Hahn (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae) soapberry bugs in Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology, 44, 344.

1. Carroll, S.P., Loye, J.E., Dingle, H., et al. (2005): And the beak shall inherit - evolution in response to invasion. Ecology Letters, 8, 944-951.

1. [Coreoidea Species File (Version 5.0/5.0 retrieved 10 January 2024)](http://coreoidea.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1191061)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Leptocoris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptocoris) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptocoris?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.