If you’re looking to add some holiday cheer to your home, a Christmas tree is a great place to start. And while most people are familiar with the joys of having a tree in their home during the holiday season, many are less familiar with all the pests that can infest it. There are several bugs that can affect your Christmas tree and cause problems for homeowners.
Here’s what you need to know about common Christmas tree bugs:
Common Christmas Tree Bugs
While bringing a live tree into your house could introduce any number of sneaky pests that hitched a ride to warm shelter, here are some of the most common critters that end up in New York homes’ live Christmas trees.
Aphids
Aphids are a common pest on Christmas trees. They are small, soft-bodied insects that suck the sap from the needles of a live Christmas tree. The aphids excrete honeydew which attracts ants and other insects, which can cause damage to your tree’s leaves such as yellowing or browning.
Mites
Spider mites are tiny, yellowish-green bugs that make webs and leave a fine dust where they’ve been feeding. They’re usually found in clusters on twigs and needles, especially near buds or leaf axils (where leaves connect to branches). Spider mites feed on sap from these areas, so look for webbing on your tree to confirm an infestation.
Scale
Scale are insects that suck sap from plants, which causes leaves to turn yellow and drop off. In the winter, they move to the bark of your Christmas tree and lay eggs there, where the hatched scale insects feed on the sap of your tree.
Bark Beetles
Bark beetles are small, brown insects that usually live under the bark of a tree. They eat the tissue and sapwood inside a tree’s trunk, which can cause major damage to a stressed or weakened tree. If you see these bugs on your Christmas trees at home, it means your tree is probably already dead (or close to being dead) so don’t worry about getting rid of them right away: just keep an eye out for more signs of distress over the next few days.
Adelgids
Adelgids are small bugs that feed on the needles of pine trees. These pests are native to North America but have spread to other parts of the world. Adelgids can be found in both coniferous and deciduous forests. They will use any type of tree as a host, including spruce trees and other plants that have needles.
Knock Out Christmas Tree Bugs
Don’t let Christmas tree pests ruin your holiday fun! By thoroughly inspecting your tree before you bring it indoors, keeping a close eye on new developments, and maintaining a year-round pest control service from Knockout Pest Control, you can enjoy peace of mind this holiday season.
To request pest control service for your New York home, call (800) 244-PEST.
