Make sure that Christmas tree pests won’t bug you!
Picture this idyllic festive scene, a tall fir tree taking pride of place in your living room, the heat from an open fire prompting it to emit a tantalising aroma of pine.
But that real tree could be harbouring an army of pests that will be as unwelcome as waking up with a cold on Christmas Day.
Here are the bugs that could be crawling around your tree:
Aphids are little black bugs that feed on the sap from your tree. They look similar to ticks and are usually a few millimetres in length.
Adelgid look like a dusting of snow and can be found on the tree’s needles bases. They love nothing better than to make their home in fir trees, white pine and Scotch pine.
Pine needle scale eggs look like specks of white paint on your tree. If you see a lot of them, your tree will start dropping its needles early and if the eggs hatch, expect to see small red bugs emerge.
Small red and brown spiders could be crawling around your tree while mites can cause needles to drop prematurely and make red stains on carpets and ornaments.
Bark beetles are brown and black, the size of a grain of rice and feed on stressed trees. They pose no risk to furniture or wood in your home.
The good news is that Christmas tree bugs won’t harm you. But be sure to wear gloves when dealing with spiders as they have a tendency to bite!
If the bugs have escaped from the tree and making their way around your house, use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of them and empty the remains in an outdoor bin.
If you have aphids on the tree, spraying cold water can sometimes dislodge them from the branches.
If you notice a large infestation of bugs on your tree, it would be worth taking it back to the retailer where you bought it and swap for a new one. Some sellers will offer a full refund on infested trees.
A word of warning when using insecticides around the tree. They could be flammable and heat from Christmas lights could cause a fire.
If you’ve yet to buy a tree, here are some guidelines ...
When choosing a tree, examine the undersides of the branches and trunk, and prune any branches with egg cases or bird nests.
If you have a garage, store the tree in there for a few days and check for any bugs before taking it into the house.
Shake the tree vigorously over a large sheet to dislodge any bugs.
Dust your tree with bug spray or neem oil to kill any bugs still on the tree.
Inspect your tree regularly with a torch to look for insects or bugs.
Here’s to a bug-free Christmas for you and your tree!