Here's a "Merry Christmas" for you:  Turns out that those live Christmas wreaths you bought in Wisconsin are probably harboring an invasive pest in your home.  According to news sources, the popular wreaths were sold at a variety of big-box retailers - including Menards, Home Depot, and Kmart prior to the holidays.

Inspectors with the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection found the infected wreaths at popular stores with widespread infestations before Christmas.  The invasive species in question is the Elongate Hemlock Scale - which lives and breeds on the underside of the evergreen needles.  Customers are encouraged to look for brown spots.

If you bought live wreaths, boughs, swags, or other holiday arrangements - state officials are encouraging you to dispose of them properly by bagging them before you throw  them away or burning them to eradicate the problem.

Some Minnesota-sourced wreaths are also showing signs of infestation.  According to news sources, Christmas trees were not included as part of the issue.

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