Safeguard Against Unwanted Holiday Guests – Pests

Holiday tree farm – East Lansing, MI – checking for pine shoot beetles

The holidays are fast approaching. Soon we’ll be sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner and before you know it, it’s time for the holiday decorating. It’s time to get the ornaments, tree, ribbons and wreath out of the attic.  So to get you in the holiday mood, we suggest you pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa, put on some holiday music of choice…

…. Whoa, first things first ….

You need to look around your storage area.  Don’t trudge up to the attic or down to the basement and drag those holiday boxes into your living room without first doing a little pest control investigation .  Before you move those boxes, look around the attic or basement floor.  See any signs of unwanted visitors?  Any droppings, holes in boxes or discarded wings?

Remember, your Christmas ornaments and decorations have been out of sight for almost a year, and there’s no telling if you’ve had some unannounced visitors during the past several months.  Look for rodent droppings, silverfish or moths in or around the boxes.  Cardboard boxes begin to deteriorate over time particularly when a storage area is prone to high heat or humidity.  Damp or dry, worn boxes can attract insects, bugs, rodents and other pests.  And if Christmas or holiday linens aren’t stored properly, moths could be a problem.

Christmas trees, like other trees, can be infested with bagworms, weevils, spider mites, and other insects. Inspect your tree before you buy it. Once home, keep your tree watered. If there are pests on the tree, many will stay on it until you toss it to the curb or place it in the recycle bin. However, if the tree you picked out becomes stressed and you fail to water it, the insects will often leave the tree in search of a better host.

So scan your storage area and your Christmas tree, looking for anything “buggy.”  If the coast is clear, then it’s time to make a list and check it twice. The holiday season can get crazy with all the little things you have to worry about. Don’t let pests be one of them. Call HomeTeam at 855-855-4873 if you find evidence of pests. We can help solve holiday pest problems before the family festivities begin.