A Wonderfully Useful Tree, but Not for Moths

Only yesterday Santa left gifts under trees all across homes in panhandle Florida. Some of the trees are or were actually trees, and others are a conglomeration of one or more materials consisting of metals, plastic and other manmade substances.

Most of the real tree material is from cut trees not native to the area. Frasier furs, blue spruce, scotch pines and others involuntarily took a truck ride, diesel fuel prices notwithstanding, from regions well to the north.

There was a time a few decades back when such exotic trees were a rarity in north Florida, but December still had plenty of Christmas trees. The native Southern Red Cedar was a popular choice for service as the interior arboreal offering to the holiday.

Today the Southern Red Cedar is a common but rarely noticed juniper species, at least by the area’s current human residents. It grows wild in forested areas and is occasionally used as a landscape specimen or windbreak.

Southern red cedars were once the Christmas tree of choice when trees grown further north were not as readily available. Today these cedars are usually viewed when serving as landscape specimens.

There are other cedars and members of the juniper family which have been transplanted into the area, including the closely related Eastern Red Cedar. All have been used as landscape enhancements.

For the area’s moth population, the presence of cedar is a story with an unhappy ending. Southern Red Cedar lumber or shavings is the only natural, native reason for the creatures to find other lodgings, but many of the non-native junipers also produce the compound cedrol which wards off insects.

The annals of history do not identify the person who first realized cedar wood is bad news for moths. No doubt it was someone who had a wool sweater and was weary of local moths’ preference for the textile.

The discovery proved popular and created a niche furniture industry. Cedar chests, cedar lined closets and bags of cedar shavings all were used to eliminate moth damage and add the sweet scent to the woolens.

Wool was an important addition to any cool season wardrobe because it is the only natural textile which can get wet and keep the wearer warm at the same time. Unfortunately, cedar could not withstand the rigors of sea travel and saltwater.

In the days before synthetic moth repellants, sea chests were made from camphor wood. This native of southeast Asia did withstand exposure to seawater and repel moths, but with a very distinct and strong odor.

Another insect pest which is susceptible to cedar is the carpet beetle. Like moths, they have a distinct preference for wool products, but they will consume a number of other animal-derived items used in upholstery, clothing or floor coverings.

The newly hatched larvae will die upon exposure to cedar, but only mature insects are repelled.  Additionally, the cedar must be fresh to work effectively.

The development of synthetic repellants and textiles in the 20^th century dramatically lessened the demand for cedar as a timber product.

Still, cedar trees have an important function in the region’s environment. The native Hairstreak butterflies are dependent on southern red cedar as a food source.

Birds and a variety of wildlife species utilize the cedar berries as a seasonal food source. Even the occasional ornamental pest, bagworms, will shelter in and dine on southern red cedar foliage.

So even if Santa did not find any Southern Red Cedars to leave presents under on December 25, they are still here and giving gifts to all that will accept them.