Aphids in Colts Neck

Challenge

I was recently called to a Colts Neck residence after the homeowner had called us complaining of a “beetle” infestation in her Christmas tree. Upon inspection, I identified these pests as Cinara aphids, which can be a problem with trees shipped from North Carolina. Although Oregon produces the most Christmas trees, North Carolina comes in second. Because of the state’s relative proximity to New Jersey, many trees sold here are North Carolina conifers, and more specifically, Fraser firs. These trees are especially popular Christmas trees because of their needle-retention and pleasant scent. Most North Carolina conifers are grown in a near-natural setting adjacent to woods where native broad leaf plants and grasses serve as ground covers. During the winter, insects that live and breed in these grasses and plants often migrate and make their homes in the trees. When the cut trees are transported, these insects stay aboard for the ride. When the trees are brought into your warm homes, these once dormant insects behave as though spring has arrived and become active again.

Cinara aphids, which are large brown, almost black aphids lay their eggs around the lower branches of the tree where they can be hard to find. They are often mistaken for ticks. However, you would never find ticks on a North Carolina conifer tree. Aphids are true insects with six legs. Adult ticks are members of the spider family with eight legs. Aphids feed on plants, don’t bite, and don’t spread disease while ticks are the exact opposite.

Christmas tree pests are relatively rare, and of all the harvested trees, only a handful wind up having pest problems. If you managed to buy a tree that has bugs, chock it up to plain old bad luck. The best lesson for homeowners to learn from this Colts Neck Christmas tree infestation is shake out the tree out before bring it in and setting it up in the home. A quick shake and inspection, especially around the lower branches, is always a good idea. If you do see bugs, either discard the tree, or if you can, exchange it. If you see pests crawling in and around the tree, vacuum them up using an attachment without a beater bar. Don’t mash aphids into your rugs or carpeting; they will leave a nasty stain. Also, don’t fumigate your house or use a household insecticide. You’ll stink up your home with chemicals that won’t do any good for this particular pest infestation. By taking a few precautions before bringing the tree into your home, you can enjoy a beautiful Christmas tree without bringing any unwanted Christmas guests into your home.

Solution

Since the aphids can survive only on the tree, the best way to resolve an aphid infestation is to discard the tree, and I recommended this to the homeowner. For peace of mind, I also applied a preventative baseboard spray. While it’s nice to know which state your tree has come from, you should not be afraid of purchasing a North Carolina tree. An Oregon tree can just as easily be harboring pests.