A wreath on the door and a decorated tree in the living room are holiday traditions that bring joy to most Wisconsin families, but they could bring something less joyous with them…invasive pests!
The Wisconsin Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection is advising that you inspect such greenery carefully for one of those pests called the Elongate Hemlock Scale. It’s a small insect that causes discolored, browning needles and appears as small brown, oblong spots on the needle’s underside. The pest has been intercepted in the past, hitching a ride on fir wreaths, Christmas trees, baskets and boughs from eastern states, and it threatens Wisconsin’s Christmas trees, native hemlock and balsam fir forests.
The DATCP’s Brian Kuhn says the best way to avoid these invasive pests is to buy local, or at least make sure the greenery you buy comes from Wisconsin, or other states further to the west.
You can learn more about the Elongate Hemlock Scale through this link to the Wisconsin DATCP’s information publicaton.
Comments