Christmas is quickly approaching, which means you need to purchase a Christmas tree. Christmas just doesn’t feel like Christmas without an authentic Christmas tree in your living room. Those fake trees from Wal-Mart or Target will not do; instead you must purchase a real one and then figure out how to fit it inside of your car. Christmas trees can be a hassle to transport and set up, but what real harm could bringing a tree into your home cause. Well, for one thing Christmas trees are crawling with bugs, some of which may bite you, your family members, your guests or your pets. According to an organic gardening and pest control company called Safer Brand, an average Christmas tree contains as many as twenty five thousand bugs.
Nobody wants aphids, spiders, mites, bark beetles or praying mantises for Christmas, but those are just a few of the extra gifts that you may be receiving when purchasing a Christmas tree. According to the Pennsylvania State University’s Department of Entomology’s Cooperative Extension, people who bring trees into their homes for Christmas likely have nothing to worry about, as most of the bugs that are present on these trees are microscopic and most never leave the tree. This makes sense since a tree is the most hospitable environment in your home for insects and spiders. However, some insects may venture into other parts of your home if they are attracted to light. Windows, for example, are commonly found with bugs near them after trees are brought indoors.
Spiders are some of the most common bugs to find on Christmas trees. Luckily, spiders do not survive for long in these situations. Also, while they are alive they are likely killing and consuming other bugs. If you find any small red dots slowly moving about within your Christmas tree, then you are likely seeing scale insects. These insects can be easily removed by shaking your tree. Surprisingly, praying mantises are often found in Christmas trees. These are one of the most predatory insects around so they will control the bug population within your tree. Hopefully, your tree will not contain mantis eggs. Once mantis eggs hatch, several baby mantises will be crawling all over your tree. However, if no food is available, these mantises will eat each other. If you find eggs on a branch, then remove the branch and place it near a shrub outside. Injuries relating to bugs coming from Christmas trees is quite rare.
Have you ever spotted a spider or an insect crawling away from your old Christmas tree?
Stay up to date with Johnny B’s Social Media Pages!