Insect expert Phil Pellitteri is back to talk about critters who are making themselves at home – in your home! He also answers listener questions.
Featured in this Show
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Is Your Christmas Tree Giving Bugs Access To Your Home?
During the cold, snowy days of winter, the indoors is an inviting place to be – both for humans and for bugs. Seasonal activities such as buying or cutting down a tree to decorate could provide a free ride for bugs from the harsh cold outside into a warm and cozy home.
“On occasion, there is a very large black aphid that is associated with conifers. So you can bring them in on Christmas trees,” said Phil Pellitteri, an entomologist and a distinguished faculty associate emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
These little freeloaders, which are about twice the size of other aphids, are basically late summer to fall insects that have been hanging around a little late, Pellitteri said.
While they are quite harmless, Pellitteri cautions they have to be handled carefully because they’ll leave a berry-like stain if you accidentally crush them.
In general it’s not that typical for trees to bring insects into the house, said Pellitteri, debunking an old urban legend that deer ticks overwinter on trees.
Other than these giant aphids, live trees wouldn’t have the bark beetles and other insects that one could expect with firewood or dead wood, he said.
“There really isn’t a big concern with Christmas trees,” he said.
Episode Credits
- Larry Meiller Host
- Jill Nadeau Producer
- Marika Suval Producer
- Phil Pellitteri Guest
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