Observer Reports
Christmas is a time for inviting guests into our homes. But it’s the uninvited ones that we bring into the house can bug us to the point of making the holidays less happy and bright.
Clemson Cooperative Extension Service Entomologist Eric Benson said insects can enter the home through bringing in firewood, on pets or even on Christmas trees.
Benson said one way to cut down on the number of these uninvited guests is to avoid storing firewood inside.
“Insects that use wood as food or a resting place will emerge indoors and worry many people,” said Benson. “Insects such as long-horned beetles, other wood-boring beetles, wasps, some moths and several other small insects may fly around indoors and be attracted to lights and windows.”
But Benson said they generally are just nuisance pests coming from the firewood, and are not dangerous to any furniture or wood inside the home.
Firewood can harbor many species of pests, some of which are on the outside of the wood and others that have bored or chewed their way inside. Clemson Cooperative Extension Forest health specialist David Coyle reminds people to obtain firewood locally whenever possible.
“If you do have to purchase firewood, make sure it has been heat-treated,” said Coyle. “Moving firewood long distances is one of the most common ways invasive forest pests get moved from place to place.”
Insects also can be found in live Christmas trees, including Cinara aphids, which are very large brown aphids, and are often be brought indoors on trees. Even though they are plant feeders, many people think Cinara aphids are ticks which can cause great concern when several hundred are seen walking around a holiday tree. To help ensure this doesn’t happen to you, Benson offered some tips.
“Inspect Christmas trees carefully,” said Benson. “If any sooty mold or honeydew is observed, do not buy the tree. These are indications of aphids or scale infestations and, with them, you can get ladybeetles.”
Other insects, typically outdoor nesters or plant feeders, are often brought into homes on potted plants moved indoors to avoid freezing temperatures outside. Sometimes fire ants or Argentine ants nesting in outdoor pots get inside homes this way.
Finally, Benson said it is important to make sure pets are free of fleas. If appropriate, bathe and treat pets before bringing them inside or check with your veterinarian for the best treatments for your pet.