It's beginning to Look A Lot LIke...Mites and Aphids?

​"O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree,
How lovely are thy branches"

Halloween is tucked away. 
​We've all slept off the turkey comas.
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday have all come and gone. 

It's not quite December 1st, but maybe even for the Scroogiest of us all it's time to sit back and usher in the  Christmas holiday. With that, comes, for many, the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. Now, a Christmas tree entry isn't exactly what you'd expect from a pest control company blog, but believe me, the choices you make about your tree could greatly affect your need of an exterminator this Holiday season.

The Christmas tree is probably one of the most iconic Christmas image, but it's definitely one that is not safe from debate:

Douglas or Fir.
Homemade ornaments or Elegant themes. 
Let the kids lend a hand or Move all the ornaments after they've gone to bed. 
White lights or Colorful lights.
One tree or Two. 
And of course.....
Real or Fake

With over 35 million trees harvested each year and only about 10 million artificial trees sold a year, it's not too soon to rule out the popularity of the live tree. I mean come on, it's an over 1 billion dollar industry!

​ Let's talk a little though about what you should know about those amazing live trees after you strap them to the top of your car and head home singing carols along the way. 

As with bringing anything involving nature into your home, when buying a live tree, you run the risk of opening your doors to a possible 25,000 unwelcome Christmas guests. Okay, Okay. I'm not saying all this to scare you, or to send you running to your local box store to purchase a pre-lit, artificial tree. Believe me, I'm not trying to ruin any traditions. You simply cannot replace that magical smell of a fresh cut tree. 

In all reality, all trees are covered in tiny microscopic organisms that you can neither see with your naked eye, nor will these pests find their way into home to create an infestation; however, there are a few pests that you might want to keep an eye on. These guys could decide to stay past their welcome, and that is probably not the gift you expected to find under that tree on Christmas morning. ​

Aphids

​Aphids are typically darker, pear shaped, six-legged, pests with antennae. They are often mistaken for spiders or ticks, so please be sure to do a leg count before squashing that little guy. If you do happen to smash one, you run the risk of leaving a purple-red stain on your couch or carpet. 
Luckily, aphids are pretty picky about their food source, and unless your home is filled with evergreens, the likelihood of these guys using your house plants as a food source is really low. Now, these pests are not known to carry diseases; however, if you like to keep your tree up for a while, the probability of eggs hatching is higher, and an infestation can be quite daunting. 

Aphids on a Christmas Tree

Mites

USDA Forest Service - Region 4 - Intermountain , USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

​With Spruce spider mites, you can identify these as they appear to be very small reddish-orange dots. You can look for them by shaking a limb over a white piece of paper. These pests feed on the tree and can lead to a premature drop of needles. Spider mites only feed on the tree, so if it's removed, they should die quickly. 

While aphids and mites are just a couple of pests possibly trimming your tree this year. You should be on the look out for other signs of bugs as well. Adelgids (these make your tree look as though they have a slight dusting of snow on it--festive right?), Bark Beetles, and even Praying Mantises are known to be found in evergreens.  A Christmas tree filled with pests may not quite be what's on your Christmas list, and the thought of bringing home a bounty of bugs may leave you a little Bah Humbug, but don't let these thoughts bring you down. Be sure to check your tree thoroughly before bringing it inside your home. a goof idea would be to place it in your garage for a few days on a white sheet, and shake it vigorously. Just think, there are always the stockings to hang by the chimney with care. 

No fear though. Champion Pest Management is here if you do happen to have a few extra visitors this holiday season. Don't be afraid to give us a call. 

843.860.4791