Pigeon Bug vs Frosted Pine Aphid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pigeon Bug Frosted Pine Aphid
Scientific Name Cimex columbarius Cinara pilicornis
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Cimicidae Aphididae
Size 4-5 mm 3-5 mm
Habitat Woodlands Farmland
Diet Blood Feeders Fungus Feeders
Regions Europe Europe, introduced to other temperate regions
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.

Frosted Pine Aphid

A large brown aphid covered in waxy powder that forms colonies on spruce twigs. It produces copious honeydew that supports sooty mold growth on needles.

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Did You Know?

Beekeepers value it because its honeydew production enables bees to make prized forest honey.