Deborah McCullough

Learn what to expect when entering a forest, methods of tick identification, ways to avoid tick bites, as well as information on Lyme Disease. Imagine the most dangerous things in the forest. Initially, you may think of big predators such as bears or perhaps a pack of wolves. These fears are certainly valid; however, focusing on these predators may cause you to ignore a more inconspicuous danger: Ticks! Some ticks are the size of a sesame seed and thus are easily overlooked.

Over the last few weeks, several growers in Michigan have reported finding unusual structures in their Christmas trees. This is caused by Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis, (Haworth), an unusual moth commonly referred to as bagworm. Bagworms are defoliators and can feed on many trees and shrubs. Severe defoliation can be a serious problem for conifers, including all Christmas tree species. If all or nearly all needles are consumed, conifer trees can even be killed.

Scale insects are common but sometimes challenging pests to control in Christmas tree production. Growers of Scots pine are likely very familiar with damage caused by pine tortoise scale and pine needle scale. In Michigan, it has been rare to find scale insect pests infesting true firs. In other Christmas tree production regions, however, this is not the case.