Leaf-footed bug nymphs

5642  I live in Edenglen, which is very near to Johannesburg, South Africa.  We are nearing the end of our summer season.  This was photographed yesterday.  I have a bush in my garden that is now has hundreds of these bugs (pic attached) all over it.  I have never seen them before and I am very interested to know if this bug is harmful to plants and what my actions should be with regards to them.  Should I destroy them or the bush or are they harmless?  Kind regards.  Louise

These are nymphs of a leaf-footed bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Coreidae); they look like a species known as the giant twig wilter, Carlisis wahlbergi. See http://tinyurl.com/zv3agzt for an  image and http://tinyurl.com/ja5dw59 for an image of an adult. They do not appear to be considered as serious pests.   Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.