Giant Bark Aphid vs Deraeocoris Plant Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Bark Aphid Deraeocoris Plant Bug
Scientific Name Longistigma caryae Deraeocoris ruber
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Aphididae Miridae
Size 4-6 mm 6-8 mm
Habitat Woodlands Orchards
Diet Wood Feeders Predators
Regions North America Europe, western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Giant Bark Aphid

The largest aphid in North America, with a body up to 6 mm long. It is grayish-brown with dark wing markings and feeds in conspicuous colonies on the bark of hardwood trees.

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Did You Know?

Colonies on tree bark produce so much honeydew that it rains down onto cars, sidewalks, and outdoor furniture, creating a sticky nuisance in urban areas.

Deraeocoris Plant Bug

A small, shiny dark reddish-brown to black predatory plant bug found across Europe. It feeds on aphids, spider mites, and psyllids on various trees and shrubs. The coloration is highly variable, ranging from red to nearly black.

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Did You Know?

Its extreme color variation confused early taxonomists who described several different species that were later found to be a single, highly polymorphic species.