There’s nothing quite like heading to a Christmas tree farm with the ones you love. You climb the mountain, find that perfect tree, cut it down, and haul it home on top of the family truckster. And who doesn’t love the smell of a real Christmas tree in their home? But, what if we told you that there’s a good chance that it might not just be Cousin Eddie coming to Christmas this year, but also a host of common Christmas tree bugs?

Are you serious, Clark?

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Common Christmas Tree Bugs

You bet I’m serious (but my name’s not Clark). We thought we’d offer some evergreen advice on the topic and explain which bugs might be hitching a ride on that blue spruce, how you can avoid bugs in your real tree, and what you can do if it’s already too late. Bah Humbug!! (Sorry, we had to.)

9 Common Christmas Tree Bugs Coming Home for the Holidays

Wondering if there is more than Santa’s gifts under the tree this Christmas? It could be one of these holly-loving insects living in that scotch pine.

Aphids

Aphids are one of the most common bugs that might come home in that Fraser Fir. These tiny insects are 1/16th to 1/8th inch long and feature pear-shaped bodies. They can be green, yellow, red, brown, or gray, but they’re commonly the black bugs people notice on their trees. They’re commonly found on the lower boughs of the Christmas tree, and they love Fraser fir, balsam fir, Norway spruce, Douglas fir trees, and other species of fir trees. 

There is good news. Aphids aren’t dangerous to humans. They aren’t poisonous or venomous Christmas tree insects, and they don’t bite. Heck, you can even eat them if the fruit cake is a bust.

Arachnids (spiders and mites)

Another critter you might be bringing home from that Hallmark movie tree farm is a spider or mite, which like Norway spruce trees, white pines, Monterey pines, and firs. These aren’t insects, but rather arachnids, and which species, type, color, or size they may be will range, which kind of makes it like a wonderful Yule-tide surprise!

Mites can bite and cause intense itching. Spiders can cause infestations and they can be dangerous, depending on the species. The most dangerous spiders in the US are the black widow, red widow, brown widow, brown recluse, hobo spider, and the black-footed yellow sac spider. Luckily, most of these spiders rarely bite and aren’t very aggressive.

Adelgids

Adelgids are like nature’s version of the snow-in-a-can that people use to decorate windows, but they add faux snow to real Christmas trees. These Christmas tree bugs are tiny little white insects that produce a wooly, white wax substance on tree branches, and they have a particular affinity for Norway spruce trees and fir Christmas trees. 

If you thought that white frosting on those branches looked cool at the tree farm, but now you’re worried about an adelgid-infested tree in your home, we get it. But, adelgids aren’t dangerous, and since they’re mostly interested in staying on the branch to suck sap, they probably won’t even leave the tree. 

Pine Needle Scale

Pine needle scales, or white scales, are a species of pests that affect certain Christmas tree species. Scale insects start life as tiny red insects and then transition from red to pink to yellow to white. And, as they eat, they leave white, waxy flakes or specks all over pine needles, potentially causing a lot of damage to the tree over time.

There’s good news, yet again: Pine needle scale and other scale insects aren’t dangerous for humans. They’re not poisonous and they’re too small to bite. If you miss the scale itself, you may notice the young, known as crawlers, traveling along limbs and strings of Christmas tree lights.

Sawflies

Sawflies are black and yellow flies, and they look intimidating, so the thought of inviting one into the home for the holidays may be a lot to handle. But, these wasp-cousins don’t sting or bite (whew). They typically make their way into the home as eggs in a cocoon. Within a few days of really warm temperatures within the home, the eggs may hatch as their natural cycle tells them it’s spring. 

The process of a sawfly going from an egg to larvae to pupa and then finally to a mature adult will take several weeks—longer than most folks keep their tree in the home. But, if you see a bunch of small worms crawling all over the tree’s branches, there’s a good chance those are baby sawflies (which are different than the maggots that infest trash cans and other places around the home, so don’t worry!). 

Praying Mantis

Praying mantis are famous for the females’ tendency to dismember the male after mating, and they’ve also been known to come home just in time for presents on the big day. These bugs make their way home in brown egg cases attached to Christmas tree limbs and trunks, where up to 200 small praying mantes are developing. Once they feel the warmth inside the home, there’s a good chance they’ll hatch and zip around, leaving you with 200 new bugs inhabiting your home for the holidays.

Praying mantises are harmless (as long as you’re not a male looking to bed one of the females, in which case, it was nice knowing you). They don’t bite and they aren’t venomous. But, they can cause quite a bit of stress as they disperse from the egg case in dozens.

Bark Beetles

Bark beetles are another species that can commonly wait under the Christmas tree for presents and egg nog. These tiny beetles bore their way into Christmas trees, causing holes and sawdust called frass. 

Other than bark beetles being able to infest large trees which will then die and could possibly fall on a human, they don’t pose a threat. They don’t sting or bite, and they might not even come out of the tree the whole holiday season. 

Ladybugs

Ladybugs and their evil look-alike cousin, the Asian lady beetle, may make themselves house guests this winter, riding the Pine Sap Express right from the tree farm to your living room. These small bugs look for warmth to hibernate over the winter, and that Christmas tree might’ve been their plan (but your home makes a better option). 

Though they can bite, ladybugs and Asian ladybeetles are harmless to humans (unless you’re allergic). Also, Asian ladybeetles can scratch and cause irritation. In fact, they can even eat those aphids that might be traveling on the same pine trees. 

Bark Lice

Here’s one for you: Bark lice use Christmas trees to build nests and hibernate over the winter. They build nests out of web and hang out until spring weather wakes them up. But, once they’ve settled in for cold weather and experienced the warmth of a house, they’ll wake up and start crawling around. 

These bugs aren’t actual or typical lice, so they’re not as bad as you might think. They’re actually harmless to humans, pets, and even the plants in which they nest. However, they’re probably not invited to a helping of the Christmas yams.

How To Prevent Inviting Christmas Tree Bugs Inside

Avoiding these Christmas tree bugs isn’t all that difficult. With a discerning eye and a little bit of extra time, you may be able to evict these bugs before they come home for Christmas.

1. Go to a reputable Christmas tree farm. Established farms pay attention to pests like aphids and adelgids, and they’ll typically spray for Christmas tree pests with pesticides throughout the year to prevent pest infestations and folks from bringing bugs home.
2. Inspect the tree: Get a good look at the Christmas tree and look for anything strange. Look for egg sacs, webs, and white clumping on the branches and trunk. It’s also a good idea to avoid any tree showing signs of dead needles, as this could be a sign of an infestation despite not seeing bugs present. Also, be sure to look for bird nests.
3. Give the Christmas tree a good shake: Many tree farms these days offer tree-shaking services. They sit the trunk of the tree in a mechanical shaker and hold it upright. The machine shakes the tree violently, removing some of the Christmas tree’s needles (just the dead ones), leaves, and even bugs. 
4. Leave that scotch pine in a heated garage for 24 hours before bringing it inside. Awakening pests will be a lot easier to deal with in a garage than in the home.

What To Do About These Festive Party Crashers?

Diatomaceous Earth

We’re big fans of diatomaceous earth here at RiddaBugs. This naturally occurring powder contains crystallized sea organisms, and their crystalized forms are very sharp. When bugs walk over the crystals, they cut the bugs’ bodies open and cause them to dehydrate and die.

Dust the tree with some food-grade DE powder. You can do this with the tree laying down or standing up (laying down tends to be easier). Give it 24 hours before giving the tree a vigorous shake to remove the excess dust and dead insects out before bringing the tree inside.

Also, DE is excellent for a wide range of other insects. It can be used against carpet beetles, chiggers, stink bugs (get ’em before they poop!), ants, even termites, and many more, so it’s good to keep on hand.

Neem Oil

Neem oil is very effective at killing immature insects, and since many of the Christmas tree bugs listed above are emerging, neem oil is an excellent choice. This natural oil coats their bodies and prevents them from breathing, suffocating the bug until it dies. 

Mix 1 tablespoon of neem oil and water in a spray bottle. If you see any bugs or signs of bugs in the Christmas tree, spray the area with the solution and let the neem oil work its magic. 

DIY Bug Spray

You can make your own bug spray with white vinegar and water. While it’s a bad idea to spray that white pine itself with the vinegar, spraying any pests that came in on the USS Pine Tree with this solution should do the trick.

Fill a water bottle with a solution of 1:4 white vinegar to water (add an essential oil like lemon if desired). Spray any bugs, egg cases, or nests with the solution, avoiding the pine needles on the branches. 

If these bugs hit the eject button from the tree and land on the furniture, consider using a steamer to kill them.

Bring the Tree Back

You can bring the tree back to the Christmas tree farm and plead your case. Chances are that the farm knows exactly what pests it’s been dealing with, and will likely replace the Christmas tree for free. 

A word of caution, though: Most Christmas tree farms are family businesses. Don’t go to the farm looking for a battle or to point fingers. Explain your case and see what they’ll do for you.

Nothing At All

The other approach you can take is to do nothing at all. Most of the common Christmas tree bugs are harmless, and many may not even emerge from their nest or cocoon. Let the insects be during the Christmas season. 

FAQs 

What are the little bugs in my Christmas tree?

More than likely, the little bugs on your Christmas tree are aphids. They’re the most common insects brought indoors during the holidays. They’re quite fond of conifers, so they can unknowingly become guests for the holiday season.

How do I identify a Christmas tree with bugs?

The signs to look for when searching a tree for a sign of a bug nest include yellowed or dead needles, holes in the trunk with sawdust underneath, snow-like wax on branches, and the presence of eggs sacks or nests.

How do you treat Christmas tree bugs?

In our opinion, the best methods for treating Christmas tree bugs are sprinkling the entire real tree with DE powder and then shaking the tree, or giving the tree a spritz of neem oil.