The Christmas season is full of light, joy and candy and, of obviously Christmas trees. However, while having a new Christmas tree can bring joy of the season, it can also attract unwanted insects.
Do not let the pests ruin your Christmas. Here we will look at the most typical pests that reside in your Christmas tree , and offer five methods to get rid of these pests.
Common Pests that be found in Christmas Trees
- Aphids
- Tree Mites
- Bark Beetles
- Bark Lice
- Pine Needle Scale
- Adelgids
Let’s get a bit more information about each of these creatures.
Aphids:
While they are usually active during the early spring months, Aphids love to eat the sap of Christmas trees. While they aren’t harmful to you, they could make your Christmas tree less likely to last as long. And it is a short-lived issue because they can be dead when they are brought into your home.
Tree Mites:
It’s likely that there isn’t an infected baby spider that has landed at your tree, and it’s most likely an insect that lives in trees, and they’re not harmful to humans. Though they’re not harmful to humans, the mites can cause the needles on the Christmas tree to drop off earlier and the tree will not last for as long.
Bark Beetles:
Although they can bite, they’re much more damaging for your Christmas tree rather than. However, it’s not just about the Christmas tree but If they are able to get onto other indoor plants that are wooded or even your lawn they could decimate those trees too. It will be obvious if you are suffering from them when you find cracks in your bark or begin to notice increasing brown-colored needles. It is important to find a dead branch cut it down and eliminate it using the plastic container so that it is not able to reach further forest areas.
Bark Lice:
Contrary to the bark beetle these lice don’t bad. In fact, they are generally able to stop fungus growth and are an indicator of a healthy tree. As per Pest Control Service they’re excellent for digesting dead wood and algae, as well as other organic substances. However, your home isn’t a natural habitat, and nobody wants to see a spangled bug at Christmas. We’ll discuss how to get rid of them in depth later in the article, but washing your tree clean by soaking it in water will rid you of the bark lice as well as the webs they leave on the Christmas tree.
The Pine Needle Scale
As per Best Pest Control Los Angeles, the Pine needle scale can be a significant threat to Christmas trees. They are difficult to recognize when you are selecting a tree during the snow, since they’re white-scaled bugs which over the needles.
Adelgids:
Yes, it is similar to Aphids. They are closely related, however If you spoke to an expert in bug control and ask for advice, they would tell you that they’re different. You may have adelgids in that Christmas tree yet consider them to be Aphids. The main difference between them as well as other aphids, is that they are often mistaken for areas of snow due to their white waxy appearance.
There’s good news: that the majority of the usual Christmas tree pests aren’t hazardous to you but are only harm the tree. Whatever the case, if they’re non-toxic, you’ll probably not wish to have them in your home, particularly when your guests are there.
How to Prevent and Get rid of the Christmas Tree Pests
- Check your tree’s condition before you purchase it.
- Shake the tree before taking it inside
- Place your tree in the garage
- Spray with soap that kills insects. .
- Make sure you have a Christmas tree
Be sure to inspect your tree prior to you purchase it.
If you are buying for your tree at Christmas, be sure there aren’t dead branches or insects on the tree before you purchase it. If it’s snowy, you can try sweeping the snow off to ensure that the appearance of snow isn’t a result of pine needle scale or Adelgids.
Shake your tree prior to taking it inside
A tree shake is one the most important actions you can take to keep bugs out of your home. The removal of dead branches or shaking off bugs that have fallen off is the most effective preventative treatment. It is best if you shake your tree several times. The most ideal time and location for shaking your tree would be the place you purchase it. It is essential that you shake your tree prior to placing it on the vehicle, to ensure that bugs that fly away on the drive don’t turn into hitchhikers and get into your home.
Your tree can be placed inside your garage (Optional)
It is a long time to wait to bring the Christmas tree in is much easier to say than done since after you purchase it, it’s hard not to get it in the house immediately. The idea of putting your tree in your garage will allow bugs to disappear naturally in your garage rather than the living room. It’s also simpler to clean your tree when you need to do so in your garage prior to it gets decorated or even in your living space.
Spray with soap that repels insects. (Optional)
The idea of applying insecticides to your Christmas tree isn’t the best idea since aerosols can cause the tree to become more flame-proof. Furthermore, applying potentially harmful chemicals to the largest of centerpieces isn’t a popular choice for a lot of people. Some people are at ease applying insecticidal soaps as a compromise.
This step is usually performed if you notice bugs in your tree and previous methods did not perform. It’s important to remember that the presence of more bugs around your home doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re directly from your tree. In reality, bugs that you already have in your house are likely to be drawn to the Christmas tree as it is a food source and shelter. If you don’t have one already, you can stop the pests from forming by conducting an annual pest control inspection prior to or shortly after placing the tree.
Keep your Christmas Tree
A real Christmas tree can be an enormous undertaking even without bugs. The tree must be watered frequently and the fallen needles must be swept away. In the course of these chores You should inspect the tree for signs of pests and cut any branches that could be threatening to end up dying.