Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for many people. It is full of laughter, family gatherings, delicious treats, hot cocoa, and of course, surprises that come in the form of presents. By the time Christmas rolls around, many people have a tree up in their home. These trees come in different sizes and some of them are real and others come in a box. But all of them are gorgeous. But, here’s something most people do not know about their tree, it can be a haven for pests.
Of course, I am only talking about real trees because the ones that come in boxes are generally safe. However, it’s not uncommon to even find a pest or two crawlings around on the branches of fake trees.
Here are some common pests you might find in your Christmas Tree:
- Adelgids
Adelgids love tree sap and Christmas trees are filled to the brim with sap. Their small insects attach to the trees and suck the sap from them. In their wake, they leave a cottony wax filament on the stems and branches of the tree. Without force, these little pests will not remove themselves. They are extremely sedentary and can usually be found clustered together in a unique pattern. They do not pose a threat to you or your family, so it’s often better to just leave them alone. You will be throwing out your tree soon after Christmas, so there is no harm.
- Aphids
These pests are very common when it comes to plants and they can cause a lot of damage. They are very tiny in size (tick size), but since they are inactive they usually go unnoticed. Aphids will try to infest the rest of your plants if they come in on your Christmas tree. However, they do rely on sap to feed. These little pests are most often brown or black, but can be red or green and will eventually develop wings.
- Mites
Mites usually become active when they are introduced to warmer temps. So, if you get a Christmas tree that has mites, you can expect them to start crawling around your home since it’s warmer than outside. This can be very bad if you have pets because they can get into your pet’s fur and cause swelling and itching due to bites.
- Praying Mantis
If you find a praying mantis in your Christmas tree, you will want to look all over your tree for an egg mass, because chances are, you’ll find one. They are large and brown. However, if you find a praying mantis, chances are high that you will not have any other pests on your tree since the praying mantis is like the king of the tree. It will eat all the other pests. If you find an egg mass, remove the branch and take it outside because you do not want that egg hatching in your home.
- Spiders
Spiders are very common when it comes to being household pests, but the eight-legged creature loves a good tree. They typically hang out in Christmas trees because there are plenty of other insects to eat.
If you bring a Christmas tree home and find that it is filled with pests, don’t throw it out. Wildout Animal and Pest Removal can help you. They can help with not only removing the pests but also making sure that pests haven’t traveled too far from the tree. They can help to set up preventative measures, just in case they have. The holidays are about enjoying a warm cup of hot cocoa in front of your beautifully lit tree. You shouldn’t have to deal with pests being part of that equation, so call Wildout today! 844-945-3688