Yes, Christmas Tree Bugs Are Real—Here's How to Get Rid of Them
For many of us—Ree included—putting up a real Christmas tree is a cherished holiday tradition. If there's one thing that might convince us to switch to team artificial Christmas tree, though, it's the thought of—ew—Christmas tree bugs. Should you be worried that your natural tree is bringing a little extra nature into your home? The short answer: Not really. The odds that your live tree is carrying an unwanted hitchhiker is about one in 100,000, says Jill Sidebottom, Ph.D., an extension specialist at North Carolina State University who has been studying Christmas tree bugs for 30 years. Chal Landgren, resident Christmas tree specialist at the Oregon State University Extension Service, agrees: "It's a very minor problem."
So what about all those scary headlines that pop up every season, warning that up to 25,000 bugs could be hiding in your real tree? Jill says that number did appear in a research study conducted in Norway, but the results don't actually suggest that your live tree is teeming with beetles, spiders, and bed bugs. "The bugs they were talking about in this Norway study were microscopic," she explains—insects like mites that you would never be able to see. An insecticidal soap brand started quoting the number, and soon everyone was putting "getting rid of Christmas tree bugs" at the top of their holiday to-do list.
Microscopic Christmas tree pests aren't cause for concern, Jill says, and Christmas tree growers take a lot of precautions before harvest to prevent pest infestations.
But if your bug tolerance is super low, you might want to get a fake tree instead. "Christmas trees are part of nature," she says. "No one can guarantee that they're completely pest-free." Luckily, the kinds of larger insects that are most likely to hitch a ride on a Christmas tree don't bite or cause disease. Jill compares them to ants at a picnic—a nuisance, sure, but nothing dangerous. Read the below information before you start hanging your beloved Christmas tree decorations!
What kinds of bugs are in Christmas trees?
Here are some more common (but still very rare!) types of Christmas tree bugs to watch out for.
Cinara aphids
These insects are brown or black with large bodies and feed on the sap from conifer trees. Most growers treat Christmas trees for aphids before harvest, but some colonies hide in branches, making it difficult for scouts to spot. Aphids reproduce quickly, but they don't bite or cause diseases. Jill says people have mistaken Cinara aphids for a more problematic critter: ticks. But ticks typically don't attached themselves to trees, and when in doubt, you can always inspect the bug: Ticks have eight legs, while aphids have only six.
Praying Mantises
Occasionally, a real Christmas tree might be hiding a praying mantis egg case. Once they warm up inside your home, hundreds of eggs can hatch. "It's a science project nobody really wants at Christmas time," Jill says. If you see an egg case—a walnut-size, light-tan mass attached to the branches—carefully remove it from the tree and bring it outside.
Spiders
Potential pests vary based on the type of tree you have and the region where it was grown. In Oregon—the country's leading Christmas tree producer—and other West Coast states, small spiders are the most common type of pest. "People think of some big, monstrous spider, but these spiders are barely visible," Chal says. He compares them to the occasional spider you'll see on fresh-cut flowers.
Here's how to prevent Christmas tree bugs:
At this point, hopefully you've relaxed and know that Christmas tree bugs are a minor occurrence, and one that won't harm you or your family. It's certainly no reason to avoid getting a real, live Christmas tree. But if you're still a little creeped out, here are some things you can do to be extra confident your tree is critter-free.
Shake your Christmas tree.
When you pick out your Christmas tree, ask to have it shaken. Many Christmas tree farms have mechanical shakers on site and will provide the service for free or a small fee. The machines vigorously shake the tree, dislodging dead needles, pollen, dust, and loosely-attached critters. If you don't see a mechanical shaker at the tree lot, you can create a similar effect by hitting the tree against a hard surface, such as concrete.
Jill also suggests leaving your tree in the garage for a day or two. Critters that settled in for the winter will wake up in a warmer environment, and we're guessing you'd rather have them crawl out in the garage than your living room.
Still nervous? Assuming you live somewhere not too cold, you could always use a garden hose to rinse down your tree. Just make sure to leave the tree to dry outside before bringing it in to decorate. If you live in an apartment or don't have access to a hose, give the tree a thorough once-over. Peek into the canopy and see if you spot anything that looks like it doesn't belong.
Keep your vacuum nearby.
If you do spot a bug that's fallen from your tree, resist the urge to squish it: Aphids can leave a reddish-purple stain, so the last thing you want to do is mash one into your carpet or furniture, Jill says. It's best to suck up any pests with a vacuum (just turn off the beater bar if your vacuum has one). After you toss your tree at the end of the season, break out the vacuum again to clean up stray needles and anything else your tree may have left behind.
Use an organic insecticide (if you're really worried).
Spraying down your tree with bug spray probably isn't the best idea, since the chemicals would linger in your home (plus, flammable sprays and Christmas tree lights don't mix). "I would be more concerned about the spray than I would be about the bugs," Chal says. If you do notice some creepy-crawlies, Jill recommends removing any lights or decorations and treating the tree with insecticidal soap. "If a person were really paranoid about bugs they could pre-treat the tree with insecticidal soap—but that's really not necessary," she says.
For rare cases, consider getting a new tree.
If you find yourself in the very rare and unlucky position of having a large infestation, ditch the tree as soon as you can. "Most Christmas tree growers will provide you with another tree," Jill says. And don't let this unfortunate situation deter you from getting a real tree next year, since it's unlikely you'd wind up with Christmas tree bugs again.
