Debug Your Christmas Tree

Could there really be up to 25,000 bugs in a single Christmas tree? That’s what Professor Bjarte Jordal at the University Museum of Bergen claimed 13 years ago. We checked, and more recent studies like one from Penn State say it’s rare to see more than a few dozen – and the majority of trees don’t have any. 

Here on the Gulf Coast of Florida we may be more susceptible to bugs, or maybe less, because of how the trees get here. The evergreen conifers we have locally are primarily scrub pines, not really suitable to prop up in the living room and decorate with baubles. So when we buy real Christmas trees, they’re shipped in from Wisconsin or Michigan. 

These trees are cut down quickly, loaded into a refrigerated truck to keep them cool, hydrated, and to prevent needle drop. As a result, they may have some insects that get dragged along for the ride. On the other hand, most roadside stands toss your chosen tree into a shaker to clear out loose and dead needles and branches, debris, and, yes, bugs. 

But there’s always a chance you get some insects still in or with your tree. The good news is that entomologists say none of these tree huggers are dangerous to you, your home, or anything inside it. So what should you look for?

Adelgids

Pineus strobi is one of the most common insects spotted on Christmas trees, especially on White, Scotch and Austrian pines. They feed on pine sap and excrete cottony wax filaments around their bodies that resemble the “snow” flocking on branches and around pine needles. Adelgids are sedentary and won’t leave the tree.

Scale Insects

Pine needle scales, Chionaspis pinifoia, are approximately 1/8" long, covered by a white waxy cover. They winter as eggs, but inside your warm house they may come to life within two weeks and start crawling over and off the tree. They can be cleaned up with a damp towel.

Aphids

There are several species of aphids that hang out in pine trees. The largest are only an eighth of an inch in size with long legs. They are wingless and usually stay with the tree unless it gets too dry. Even smaller are balsam twig aphids, which are usually grey-green and seldom hatch unless your tree stays indoors for more than a few weeks.

Bark Beetles

Ambrosia or bark beetles are rare on home Christmas trees as they prefer to feed on stressed, dying, and dead trees. So, unless your tree looks sickly or sat for a while before being shipped out, you should be fine.

Spiders

There’s a chance that when your Christmas tree was snatched up and shipped to Florida, a few unhatched or wintering spider eggs might have been captured with it. Like most spiders, if these hatch, they’re not going to pester you, but in fact help clear out other insects. Occasionally, you might find some cobwebs in interesting places. But those are easily cleaned up.

Praying Mantises

If you spot walnut sized egg masses on a branch or two of your Christmas tree, remove the branch and stash it in an outdoor bush or tree. In the spring, you’ll have praying mantises feeding off other insects and eventually each other. If you miss them on the tree until it’s inside the house, you might get several baby mantises on the tree, but they’ll start eating each other. Problem solved.

Bark Lice/Psocids

These small, sometimes winged insects are commonly found on outdoor trees. They eat mold, pollen, fungus, and other insects. While they thrive in higher humidities, they quickly die off in our warmer climate.

Mites

Notice a bird nest or remnants of one in your Christmas tree? Your tree might have mites. You’ll want to get rid of those nests before you bring it indoors.

Spotted Lanternflies

Lycorma delicatula, is an invasive planthopper that feeds on sap from several types of plants. So far, these are not an issue in Florida. But, again, since our Christmas trees are trucked in, there’s a chance a few might hitchhike here. If you see an inch long fly with spotted wings - white up top, red underneath, kill it.

Shake It Off

The best way to avoid bringing bugs home in your Christmas tree is to inspect it at the lot before you let them wrap it up and load it on your car. Check for birds’ nests, the white flocking from adelgids, or bunches of eggs. Remove what you can. The tree shaker at the lot should do most of the rest of the work. Whenever possible, let the tree rest on your front porch or in the garage for 12-48 hours before bringing it into your house. That gives any lingering bugs the chance to slink away.

As for the other insects inside your home? That’s where we come in. Our Go Green Perimeter Plus takes care of roaches, ants, spiders, silverfish and a handful of other creepy crawlies who like to invade our homes. Our solutions are affordable and safe for the whole family, including the four-legged members. December is a great time to get your home insect-free for the new year! For more details, or to schedule your first appointment, please give us a call!