successfully stamped out a Christmas tree bug that could have posed a threat to the Island's cedar trees.

Agriculture and Fisheries Plant Pathologist Terry Lyn Thompson said the fumigation was completed on Tuesday afternoon and the trees were inspected and released for sale on Wednesday morning.

Both Bermuda General Agency Ltd. and Gorham's Ltd. brought in several containers earlier this week packed with Christmas trees which were discovered to have a scale insect infestation.

Although the trees were sprayed in Canada, the infestation was discovered when the trees were inspected locally.

The scale insect found on the Balsam pines are a danger to cedar trees which is also a host to the pest. A local pest control agency injected a gas into the containers covered with tarpaulin for about three hours to kill the bug.