SUNDAY, Dec. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Ornaments are not the only
things nestled in the branches of the average real Christmas
tree. Thousands of small bugs may be hiding in the fir tree you
bring into your home, but they pose little risk, according to an
insect expert. Research has shown that a single Christmas tree
may contain as many as 25,000 individual bugs, such as bark
lice, mites, moths and spiders, said Bjarte Jordal, an associate
professor at the University Museum of Bergen in Norway. The bugs
in these trees have gone into hibernation, but may reawaken when
the tree is brought into the warmth of your home. Most of them
stay in the tree and quickly die, so you don't have to worry
about bugs swarming out of your tree, and there is no risk to
people or furniture, Jordal explained in a university news
release. He also said that there is a minimal risk from ticks
that may be carried in with the tree. However, if you want to be
extra cautious, you might want to avoid letting your dog sleep
under the tree. It