Looking over fresh trees and wreaths for unwanted hitchhikers can help prevent bringing pests inside. Giving wreaths and trees a hearty shake should help dislodge any uninvited guests. If you do find a pest in a tree you’ve brought in, avoid spraying any insecticides, as they can be highly flammable! Most of the bugs that come in on Christmas trees are occasional invaders, which do not cause any serious infestations.
Check out this article from Martha Stewart which explains what to look for when you’re checking your trees and greenery!
If you do find bugs on your tree, this Penn State article can help identify them. They encourage you to check for spotted lanternfly eggs even before disposing of your tree after the season ends because they are invasive and should be destroyed. Curious about other invasive species? CABI (Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International has a blog with The Twelve Pests of Christmas.
Though it’s unlikely, taking a few minutes to look your tree over can help you avoid a fiasco like this.
Enjoy the holiday season!