Yorkshire Pudding Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Our tree has only been up a week - it's a big, beautiful Nordmann fir. This afternoon there was a sudden 'pitter patter' and seven or eight insects dropped onto the floor, lying on their backs wriggling and obviously dying. They all fell within a few seconds of one another. They were round-ish, six-legged black bugs, about 5 mm long. I've Googled furiously and all I can find is that Nordmann firs don't have many insect pests - except the odd aphid. They could have been very big aphids, I suppose.... but OH and I are both plant scientists and they didn't look aphid-shaped to either of us! Anyone else had a sighting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 ooooh, I dont know, how weird cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Is it a weavel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 now that is all the more reason for me not to have a real tree ! *shudder* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Nothing has dropped out of my Nordmann yet! Could it have been something picked up from the garden centre? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Goodness. Mine is propped up in the porch. No beasties that I am aware of. Have you photographed them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 The thought *shudder* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 There were a couple more this morning.... I have had a closer look and on reflection they do look like big fat aphids. I'm going to call the garden centre where I bought the tree and see what they have to say! At least if they are aphids they won't bite anyone. But I'm not keen on the idea of sticky honeydew all over my floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronmusgrove123 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 that sounds horrible ii would defo ring the garden center and complain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 I have done, and they are sending someone around to my house to have a look. This is a first for them, they had never heard of bugs falling out of Christmas trees before. I think what I have is these:. Cinara aphids, rare on firs but common on pine and spruce, at least in North America. I cannot find a website to tell me if they are often seen in the UK though. Harmless but not pretty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 not nice, I am glad they are coming round, I cant wait to hear what they say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 yak! harmless or not I wouldn't fancy having them as my christmas house guests! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 eww they look like the aphids we get on our willow tunnel. They (willow aphids) are apparently the largest aphids in the world and wasps just love their sticky sweet secretions they leave all over the willow Not great for the kids to play in during the height of summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAZAROO Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Our tree has only been up a week - it's a big, beautiful Nordmann fir. This afternoon there was a sudden 'pitter patter' and seven or eight insects dropped onto the floor, lying on their backs wriggling and obviously dying. They all fell within a few seconds of one another. They were round-ish, six-legged black bugs, about 5 mm long. I've Googled furiously and all I can find is that Nordmann firs don't have many insect pests - except the odd aphid. They could have been very big aphids, I suppose.... but OH and I are both plant scientists and they didn't look aphid-shaped to either of us! Anyone else had a sighting? http://www.springerlink.com/content/h7446150584l17tp/ Weevils??????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 So what have they said? They are not very nice guests to have at Xmas are they? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAZAROO Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Maybe they are an extra for your chooks???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Thats a good idea, bring the chooks in to eat them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
