The holidays are here and it is easy to get lost in the world of great deals on electronics and clothing. Setting up the Christmas tree and hanging up stockings is all part of the experience, but when pests are forgotten, they seem to like it. When the ornaments are being hung and Nat King Cole is playing in the background may be when you least suspect them to rear their buggy heads.
The past few years, there have been cases of infestations of a certain pest, a pest that normally would not be given a thought to infest during this joyous time of year. Ticks are being brought into your homes not on your pet, but on your tree! Ticks are ecto-parasitic insects which feast on the blood of warm blooded animals, typically your four legged friends. Your tree may not be infested with ticks since they need mammalian blood to complete their lifecycle, but when a pregnant female can lay up to 10,000 eggs, you now have a problem. While this pest may be a rarity, it is always best to be on the lookout.
Another pest that has been coming in more commonly on trees is Cinara aphids also known as Conifer Aphids. These insects may be confused with ticks; however they have 6 legs instead of 8. They do not feed on blood like the ticks, but feed on pines, firs, and conifers making your Christmas tree a possible host. When the tree is brought inside, the aphids come down and can be seen meandering around on the floor. Many other species of aphids may go unnoticed due to their size, but the Cinara aphids are one the larger native aphids and can be easily spotted when they reach their adult size of 1/8”.
Other pests such as spiders, mites, and a variety of beetles can also be found in the trees. While these are all occasional pests, it can make your in-laws staying with you for the holidays more of a nightmare than normal. Here are some tips:
- When shopping for your tree and fresh wreathes, it is important to inspect properly. Check the branches and trunk for any creature that looks suspicious.
- Before bringing your tree inside, give it a good shaking. This will dislodge many pests hiding within
- Do not apply insecticides to your tree. Aerosol insecticides, which can be purchased at any store, are flammable and should never be sprayed near the Christmas lights or anything else that reaches high temperatures. Instead, if you suspect an infestation, the tree can be hosed off with mild soapy water which should eliminate most soft bodied insects such as the aphids.
- If you do notice a heavy infestation, there is no shame in returning it. Not all trees on the lot may be affected.
- If you do happen to notice a few meandering pests, vacuum them up, vacuuming is one of the greatest and safest control method.
Safe Home Pest Control provides these tips to you so you can enjoy this time of year safely and bug free.
From our Safe Home to yours,
The Safe Home Team
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