Your Real Christmas Tree Could Possibly Be A Host To 25,000 Living Bugs

Nov 20, 2018 by apost team

Bringing home a freshly-cut Christmas tree is an annual tradition for many families, but have you thought about the tens of thousands of little critters that may have made a home in that tree before it was chopped down?

You may bring these bugs into your home unintentionally if you do not take proactive steps to remove them and to prevent an infestation.

During the winter months, many insects may be hibernating in or on the tree. Their inactivity may make it difficult for you to determine if bugs are a problem before you bring your preferred tree indoors. However, once the natural tree is in your home, the combination of light, warmth and fresh water may reactivate those critters.

Some of these bugs may not survive in your home environment, but many others may survive and thrive. Some of these may include spiders, mites, aphids and more. Because of this, you could have a severe pest infestation on your hands as a result of your Christmas tree.

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You understandably want your Christmas to be merry, and you do not want to share the holiday with uninvited houseguests. As you are selecting your tree, inspect the branches and trunk for noticeable signs of pests, such as spider eggs.

When you bring your selected tree home, leave it in your garage for a few days before bringing it indoors and decorating it. Shake the tree rapidly several times to knock insects out of the tree. Be sure to sweep these critters out of your garage. Inspect the tree again to ensure that there are no visible signs of bugs.

You may be inclined to spray pesticide on the tree, but keep in mind that aerosol products may be highly-flammable. If you want to use pesticides, look for natural products that can provide useful results without being a fire hazard.

These should be applied when the tree is still in the garage. Once you move the tree into your home, remember to vacuum the area around your Christmas tree regularly for the entire time the tree is up. This will help to eradicate any small critters that were not removed through these other efforts.

Do you usually get a fresh Christmas tree each year? Reflect on the problem of insects on your tree, and leave a few tips or advice for other readers who may be dealing with this problem. Pass this on to friends and family so that they can also be aware!