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December 4, 2007
Christma Tree Bugs
I just purchased my 1st real christmas tree yesterday. Today I'm seeing small brown bugs around the tree. It's grossing me out, but I don't want to get a new tree after all the work put into decorating it. Are bugs in christmas tree's common? If so, what can I do? Don't want little critters spreading around the house.
Comments
Ive never had any bugs come off a christmas tree so I don't think its common.
Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at December 4, 2007 8:39 AM
A friend of mine had a pod of praying mantis (mantae???) hatch and spread all over her livingroom one xmas. She said it was like an alien invasion.
Posted by: guest at December 4, 2007 9:32 AM
Relax, you can sit back and enjoy your tree, your invasion will be very short-lived...
read this link, and take another sip of eggnog! :)
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/iiin/christmas.html
Posted by: bren at December 4, 2007 10:26 AM
Bet you did not expect that under your tree. :)
The safest way to remedy little pesky things in house pants is a combo of rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle. I think its half and half, 1:1. Just hit them a few times today and then tomorrow until they are gone. Works for all sorts of spiders, aphids, ants, etc.
Posted by: hhitchc at December 4, 2007 11:05 AM
just bring that sucker outside for a day or two and they'll all die out without reproducing.
Posted by: armchairwarrior at December 4, 2007 12:18 PM
First you're responsible for the death of a tree and now you want to kill the wildlife that has made the tree their home. How cruel.
Posted by: guest at December 4, 2007 1:19 PM
Judith will you recycle the tree when your done playing dress up with it? At least let it die with dignity..
Posted by: LiveFreeOrDie at December 4, 2007 1:49 PM
Hey LiveFreeOrDie - I hope you're from New Hampshire, otherwise, leave the name to the true natives.
Posted by: guest at December 4, 2007 3:20 PM
New Hampsha massive in the area!!!
Posted by: guest at December 4, 2007 7:51 PM
"Live Free Or Die" is my favorite state motto because it appears on license plates that are made by prisoners.
Posted by: guest at December 4, 2007 8:16 PM
Where'd you get that infested tree so the rest of us can avoid that location.
Posted by: guest at December 4, 2007 11:20 PM
Bugs in the cristmas tree is common First try to decorate on small brown bugs or it is more good to go and buy a new fine tree which is much better than the previous one.
Posted by: naimh at December 5, 2007 3:55 AM
Thanks for all the helpful responses. The bugs appear to be aphids (thanks for the article link Bren). I noticed a few more yesterday but thankfully they were all dead. So I'm going to stick it out.
11:20, I purchased the tree from the Home Depot in Sunset Park.
-Judith
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 10:20 AM
hhitchc, thanks for the tip but I'm wondering whether spraying anything with alcohol on the tree is safe? Wouldn't that make the tree more flammable?
-Judith
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 10:24 AM
Heh. Aphids. Not too bad. One year my parents tree in Iowa was infested with hundreds and hundreds of baby spiders!!!
We were passing out presents and i noticed a bunch of flecks on a present. But the flecks were moving. Gah. Then we discovered the extent of their multitude.
I assume they hunker down for the winter, but when their home is cut down and brought into a warm house...Hey, it's spring! Wake up!
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 11:20 AM
Uh... Is that a metaphorical "Christmas Tree"?
Posted by: GHB at December 5, 2007 11:48 AM
Hi Judith. I have had no problems with the spray on any of my house plants. Again its diluted 1:1 so half water, half alcohol. You can use less if you prefer. I have read that mouthwash works equally as well because the mint is an added pesticide. You can do a test spot to check. Christmas trees are super hardy so I would not worry. If it was a delicate plant with soft leaves, I would do something more gentile. If you google you will see this is a widely used herbal pest remedy.
Good luck.
Here is a list I use.
Herbal remedies
http://www.comfycountrycreations.com/bugspray.htm
Posted by: guest at December 5, 2007 2:21 PM
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