Health officials warn of invasive bug found in evergreens sold at chain stores

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Health officials are suggesting anyone who bought wreaths or other evergreen decorations to bag and dispose of them or burn them after inspectors found invasive insects on many items sold at large chain stores in Wisconsin.

Inspectors found an insect called elongate hemlock scale on wreath, swags and boughs, and in arrangements of evergreen boughs in hanging baskets, porch pots, mugs and sleighs, according to a release. The insect saps nutrients as it feeds on the underside of conifer needles and threatens Wisconsin’s Christmas tree farms, native hemlock and balsam fir forests, and ornamental conifers in yards and parks.

“It’s fine to keep your decorations up for the holiday season, but when it’s time to dispose of them, don’t put them on the compost pile or set the greens out for brush collection. Burn them if you can. If you can’t do that, bag them and send them to the landfill,” said Brian Kuhn, director of the Plant Industry Bureau in the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. “EHS has survived in the northeastern U.S., so winter weather will not kill it. As a result, if you compost this material, the insects may well attack conifers in your yard or neighborhood, and spread from there.”

Officials said the infested decorations were found throughout the state in several major chain stores.

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