The Hour
A new insect pest is appearing in Christmas greenery sold in South Dakota and surrounding states, South Dakota agricultural officials said Wednesday.
The pest is known as the elongate hemlock scale. South Dakota's state forester Greg Josten said the Asian insect was detected by the state's forest health team in wreaths last Christmas.
The insect was found on wreaths made of fir that were shipped in from the southern U.S., Josten said. The insect has appeared on similar greenery this year.