Nepetalactone
Guides
Cinara pilicornis
spruce shoot aphid, brown spruce shoot aphid
Cinara pilicornis is a large aphid species specialized on spruce trees, particularly Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis). Native to Europe, it has been introduced to New Zealand and South Korea. The species produces melezitose, a trisaccharide sugar, and is associated with specific semiochemicals including nepetalactone compounds. It is attended by ants such as Formica polyctena and serves as a host for Entomophthora fungi, though it experiences low parasitism by the wasp Pauesia pini.