Bringing home a fresh-cut tree is a holiday tradition for plenty of families in Morristown. A few days later, some people notice something unexpected: tiny dark specks on the tree skirt, a few small spiders on the ceiling or little insects crawling near the window. It's a surprise, but it's not a crisis. Real trees grow outdoors, and outdoor insects spend the winter tucked into bark and branches. Below, we'll explain what those bugs are, why they won't take over your home and how to check a tree before it comes inside. If you're seeing spiders well after the holidays, our spider control team can take a look.
Why Christmas Trees Can Have Bugs
Many insects don't die off in winter. They go dormant, hiding as eggs, young or adults in bark cracks, needle clusters and branch joints until spring. A Christmas tree is cut while those insects are still asleep.
Once the tree is set up in a warm living room, the heat can make some of them think spring has arrived. They wake up, move around and sometimes leave the tree. That's when you start to notice them. Most trees bring in few or none, and when bugs do show up, it's usually a small number.
What Kinds Of Bugs You Might See
The insects that ride in on a tree are almost always small, plant-feeding or harmless species. Here are well-known examples:
- Aphids. Tiny, soft-bodied insects, often dark brown or black on conifers. They feed on sap and may leave sticky spots.
- Adelgids. Small sap-feeders related to aphids. Some cover themselves in white, waxy fluff, which can look like specks of cotton on the bark. They're relatives of the hemlock woolly adelgid that damages hemlock trees.
- Mites. Very small, often reddish specks that are easiest to spot on a white surface or the tree skirt.
- Spiders. Small spiders sometimes overwinter in evergreens. They're harmless to people and usually go looking for prey once they warm up.
- Praying mantis egg cases. A tan, foamy-looking case stuck to a branch. Each one can hold many eggs that hatch in warm weather.
Will They Infest Your Home?
No. These insects are adapted to living on outdoor plants. Indoors, the air is dry and there's nothing for them to eat once the cut tree starts to dry out. They don't feed on furniture, food or people, and they don't move into walls or carpets the way household pests can. Most die off within days. The worst case is a little cleanup, and maybe a small spot of sap on a ceiling or floor.
The one surprise that can get messy is a praying mantis egg case. If it warms up enough to hatch, you can end up with a crowd of tiny mantises in the living room. They're harmless, but it's better to find the case first.
How To Check A Tree Before It Comes Inside
A few minutes outdoors can save you the cleanup later.
- Shake it well. Some tree lots have a mechanical shaker. If yours doesn't, give the tree a firm shake or a few bumps on the ground in your driveway.
- Inspect with a flashlight. Look along the trunk, under branches and in the dense inner needles for egg cases, webbing, white fluff or clusters of tiny insects.
- Remove egg cases. If you find a mantis egg case, clip off that small branch and set it in a shrub or hedge outside, where it can hatch in spring.
- Check the base. Brush off loose bark and debris from the trunk before it goes into the stand.
- Use a light-colored tree skirt. It makes small insects and mites easier to spot in the first few days.
What To Do If Bugs Show Up Indoors
Keep it simple. Use a vacuum with a hose attachment to pick up insects around the tree, the skirt and nearby windowsills, then empty the canister or bag outside. Wipe sticky spots with a damp cloth.
Don't spray aerosol bug spray on the tree. Many aerosol products are flammable, and a dry tree near lights and outlets is the last place you want flammable residue. It also isn't needed, because these insects can't survive indoors for long. The same goes for foggers in the room where the tree stands.
When To Call A Professional
Bugs that ride in on a tree go away on their own. If you're still seeing insects or spiders weeks after the tree is gone, or you're finding them in rooms far from where the tree stood, something else may be going on. That's worth a closer look. EcoFusion technicians can identify what you're seeing and recommend the right next step, starting with a free inspection. For outdoor plant pests around your yard, our outdoor pest control service covers the perimeter of your home.
A few bugs on a real tree are a normal part of bringing nature indoors. Shake the tree, check it for egg cases, vacuum any stragglers and skip the bug spray. Enjoy the season in Morristown, and if insects keep turning up long after the holidays, EcoFusion Pest Control is happy to take a look.