Pigeon Bug vs Bed Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pigeon Bug Bed Bug
Scientific Name Cimex columbarius Cimex lectularius
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Cimicidae Cimicidae
Size 4-5 mm 4-7 mm
Habitat Woodlands Underground
Diet Blood Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions Europe Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Pigeon Bug

A cimicid ectoparasite of pigeons and doves found in nest sites and dovecotes across Europe. It can bite humans in buildings with pigeon infestations.

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Did You Know?

Removing pigeon nests from buildings without treating for these bugs often drives them indoors to bite residents.

Bed Bug

Obligate blood-feeding parasites of humans. Can survive up to a year without feeding. Have made a dramatic worldwide resurgence due to pesticide resistance and increased travel.

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Did You Know?

Bed bugs can survive without a blood meal for over a year and can withstand temperatures from near-freezing to 50°C, making them extraordinarily difficult to eliminate.