How can Remove Christmas Tree Bugs, Mites

Bugs that inhabit Christmas trees are very small and not easily seen. Springtails, for example, are typically between 1/16th and 1/8th of an inch long. Bark lice range between 4/100th and 4/10th of an inch long. Aphids range between 6/100th and 1/10th of an inch long. In addition to their miniature size, tree bugs are also very adept at hiding within cracks and crevasses of the tree. Most bugs go unnoticed on a Christmas tree unless a person is actively inspecting the tree for bugs.

How to Minimize Bugs on a Christmas Tree

Christmas trees are part of nature and are inhabited by organisms found in nature. As such, there is no way to bug proof your fresh-cut tree. You can help to minimize the types of bugs in your tree by purchasing a locally grown tree. Trees farmed for use as Christmas trees will have less bugs than those obtained from your own backwoods or forested area. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture recommends using a mechanical tree shaker or vigorously shaking your tree to remove insects before bringing your tree indoors. Using chemicals or insect sprays is not recommended because they are flammable and harmful. Any bugs remaining on the tree should be left there. They will not be able to survive long in your house and can be easily swept or vacuumed away once they are dead and have fallen to the floor. Attempts to clean or scrape the tree free of bugs should be avoided, as this will damage your Christmas tree.
_Sources:

• _{University of Bergen. "Bugs in the Christmas tree." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 18 December 2012. (www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121218081830.htm).}
• _{Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. "BUGS and the Real Christmas Tree." Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. Accessed, 2 December 2015. (http://ento.psu.edu/extension/christmas-trees/information/bugs-and-the-real-christmas-tree)}