Did You Inspect Your Christmas Tree For Pests?

The aroma of a freshly cut Christmas tree definitely has a distinct quality that helps us feel festive. A recently cut Christmas tree fills our house with a lovely, energizing, and woodsy smell. However, it may also invite unwanted guests—pests! Even though the majority of insects found in Christmas trees are not harmful to people, they can still be a pain.

A LIST OF REGULARLY FOUND INSECTS TO SEEK OUT IS PROVIDED BELOW:

1. Search for specks of black and red to identify spiders and mites. usually found on spruce, white pine, Fraser fir, and Douglas fir trees.
   
2. Look for specks of white (adults are under 1/4 inch long), black, brown, gray, yellow, pale green, and occasionally pink when looking for aphids. found frequently in evergreen, balsam, and white fir trees.
   
3. Look for white flecks that seem dense and fuzzy to identify adelgids. is frequently observed on Douglas fir, pine, and spruce.
   
4. Look for brown cocoons on the needle pines, if you're a sawfly. seen frequently on pine trees
   
5. Pine Needle Scale: Look for white flecks on the branches and needles of pine trees. commonly found on cedar, white fir, Douglas fir, spruce, and pine trees.
   
6. Bark beetles: Look for dark brown flecks lodged inside the tree's trunk.
   
7. An egg sac can hatch up to 400 small mantids, so look for a cocoon that is light brown and rather large when searching for praying mantises.
   

THE BEST WAYS TO AVOID CHRISTMAS TREE INSECTS

1. Shake. For usage on the tree after purchase, the majority of merchants provide a mechanical tree shaker. We advise shaking your tree vigorously before loading it into your car and once more before taking it into your home for inspection if your retailer does not offer a tree shaker. 
   
2. Use a flashlight to search the tree's trunk and undersides of branches for insects or their eggs. 
   
3. Before bringing the tree home, we advise vacuuming it out and emptying the vacuum outside if you discover anything that concerns you.
   

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU BRING THE TREE INDOORS AND FIND INSECTS?

Don't worry; insects discovered in living trees usually solely dwell inside the trees and do not feed on them. These insects won't harm your house because they are non-invasive species. Give us a call if you're having trouble getting rid of these insects or need assistance.