However, when you bring in a real or cut tree, you could be inviting insects to spend the holidays with you and your family, including spiders, mites and beetles. These insects could remain on the tree into the winter and could become active after being introduced to the warm temperatures inside your home. Your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company has all the information you need to know about Christmas tree insects.
Insects That Live In Christmas Trees
There are many different insects that can call your Christmas tree home from aphids and mites to spiders and beetles. Although insects may not be active during the winter months, they could lay eggs in Christmas trees. When a Christmas tree that has eggs is introduced into your warm home, they could hatch mistaking the warmth for spring. Although these insects typically don't do physical damage to your home, they can become an unwanted house guest(s) throughout the holiday season, especially if the tree you bought has eggs that hatched.
Aphids
Insects That Live In Christmas Trees
There are many different insects that can call your Christmas tree home from aphids and mites to spiders and beetles. Although insects may not be active during the winter months, they could lay eggs in Christmas trees. When a Christmas tree that has eggs is introduced into your warm home, they could hatch mistaking the warmth for spring. Although these insects typically don't do physical damage to your home, they can become an unwanted house guest(s) throughout the holiday season, especially if the tree you bought has eggs that hatched.
Aphids
Aphids are soft-bodied insects that use their piercing sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap. They can usually be found on the lower boughs of evergreen, pine, balsam fir, spruce, Fraser fir and white fir trees. If you see aphids crawling around on your tree or around your house, to get rid of them but avoid stains, you can simply vacuum them up.
Mites
Commonly found on Douglas fir, pine, white pine, Fraser fir, and spruce trees, mites are tiny red or brown critters that often go unnoticed. The most common sign of mites on a Christmas tree is the discoloration of the needles that they cause. When many mites are present, their damage gives the needles a dusty, rust-colored appearance.
Sawfly
Sawflies are often found on spruce and pine trees, and can be detected by their brown cocoons. Often people mistake these cocoons as old butterfly or moth cocoons and don't remove them thinking they're harmless. Other indications that sawflies are probably present are the reddish-brown, straw-like remains of incompletely consumed needles or the bare twigs stripped of needles.
Bark Beetle
Bark beetles are dark brown or black bugs that burrow themselves in the trunks of Monterey pines, ponderosa, Coulter pines, Jeffery pine, white fir, and juniper trees. These tiny beetles are cylindrical hard bodied red, brown or black bugs that are roughly the size of a piece of rice grain. To identify an infestation, look for small holes and saw dust trails on the trunk.
How To Pick The Right Tree
Harmless or not, you don't want to be spending the holiday season with bugs crawling around the presents. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help minimize the chances of bringing pests into your home through your Christmas tree. When choosing your perfect pest free tree, inspect it carefully including looking underneath the branches. Look for signs of aphids, adelgids or small insects. Things to look for include trees that have their own "flock", light tan, walnut-size, frothy egg masses and small holes with sawdust trails. Make sure to shake out your tree well to dislodge any hiding critters. Remove any bird nests that may be present as they may contain mites. And trim any branches back that show indication of pest remnants.
Harmless or not, you don't want to be spending the holiday season with bugs crawling around the presents. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help minimize the chances of bringing pests into your home through your Christmas tree. When choosing your perfect pest free tree, inspect it carefully including looking underneath the branches. Look for signs of aphids, adelgids or small insects. Things to look for include trees that have their own "flock", light tan, walnut-size, frothy egg masses and small holes with sawdust trails. Make sure to shake out your tree well to dislodge any hiding critters. Remove any bird nests that may be present as they may contain mites. And trim any branches back that show indication of pest remnants.
If your pest infestation goes beyond the tree, it is best to call a professional pest control company at the Lake of the Ozarks. From bed bugs to spiders, A B Pest Control & Insulation can make sure your home is pest free for the holidays. To schedule an appointment with a professional Lake of the Ozarks exterminator, contact us at 573-964-1100.
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