# Dock Bug (*Coreus marginatus*) The Dock Bug is a cool insect that loves to hang out on plants. It has a long body and can be green or brown, helping it blend in with leaves. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas, Gardens ![Dock Bug](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cor%C3%A9e_margin%C3%A9e_%28Coreus_marginatus%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: JackyM59, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cor%C3%A9e_margin%C3%A9e_%28Coreus_marginatus%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Dock Bug is a broad, flattened insect, typically dull reddish-brown to dark brown, with a noticeably wide body. It has distinctive, leaf-like expansions on the outer edges of its hind tibiae, making its legs appear paddle-shaped. Its antennae are four-segmented. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hemiptera - **Family:** Coreidae - **Genus:** Coreus ## Interesting facts - Baby Dock Bugs, called nymphs, look a lot like tiny adults but don't have fully developed wings! - Even though it's called a 'Dock Bug,' it actually enjoys eating many different types of plants, not just dock! - Its antennae are like tiny feelers, helping it explore its world and find the best places to munch. - This bug is an amazing plant mimic, looking just like a dried leaf or bud on a plant stem! ## Special abilities - **Stink Shield:** Dock Bugs can release a foul-smelling liquid to deter predators, helping them stay safe from hungry attackers. - **Leafy Legs:** Dock Bugs have flattened, leaf-like hind legs that help them blend in perfectly with plant stems and leaves. - **Sip-Sip Straw:** Dock Bugs have a long, piercing-sucking mouthpart to drink sap from plants, getting all their yummy nutrients. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-35 mm - **Size:** 10-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-200 days - **Flight Speed:** 5-10 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These bugs use a special straw-like mouth to drink tasty sap from various plants. - **Primary Foods:** Rumex crispus, Polygonum aviculare, Chenopodium album, Urtica dioica - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Curled Dock](https://www.snappit.app/explore/curled-dock) (*Rumex crispus*) — Its primary food source - **Eaten by:** [European Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-robin) (*Erithacus rubecula*) — Common garden bird prey - **Eaten by:** Wasp Spider (*Argiope bruennichi*) — Preyed upon by spiders - **Eats:** Knotgrass (*Polygonum aviculare*) — Another favored plant food ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to look at bugs from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Dock Bug? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Dock Bug's wingspan? 25-35 mm ### How big is Dock Bug? 10-15 mm ### How long does Dock Bug live? 30-200 days ### How fast can Dock Bug fly? 5-10 km/h ### What does Dock Bug eat? These bugs use a special straw-like mouth to drink tasty sap from various plants. ### Where is Dock Bug usually found? Urban areas, Gardens ### How does Dock Bug hunt? Foraging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Dock Bug: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dock-bug)