As Christmas approaches, many British households are preparing to bring the festive spirit indoors with a real Christmas tree. However, pest control experts are warning that your beautiful fir could be carrying some unexpected guests.
Which Pests Are Hiding in Your Tree?
Sophie Thorogood, a pest prevention specialist at Pest-Stop, explains that a wide variety of insects could be secretly stowed away on your Christmas tree. From beetles to flies, moths and spiders, firs can be magnets for creepy crawlies seeking shelter from the winter cold.
"We've seen significantly higher insect numbers throughout 2025 due to the warm weather," Ms Thorogood revealed. "There's a good chance your Christmas tree could be carrying some unexpected passengers."
Following an unusually warm summer that saw ladybird and wasp numbers soar, spider populations have also increased significantly. These eight-legged creatures are among the most common pests found on freshly-cut Christmas trees, often laying eggs that can hatch once inside your warm home.
Common Christmas Tree Invaders
Tiny aphids, measuring just 1-2mm long, are dark green, sap-feeding insects that particularly love making trees their home. The green spruce aphid is one species commonly linked to Christmas trees, which can cause needles to turn yellow and drop prematurely.
Trees also provide natural hideaways for beetles, with the spruce bark beetle frequently found on Christmas trees. These insects are 6-8mm long, dark brown and covered in distinctive orange hairs.
If your Christmas tree stands in soil or water, this can become a breeding site for various flies, according to Ms Thorogood. Meanwhile, mites represent a global pest for spruce, pine and fir trees, sucking sap from needles and shoots which causes mottling and yellowing. Each mite measures just 0.5mm long, with eight legs and a hairy body.
A blog post from JG Pest Control emphasises the scale of the potential problem: "Your Christmas tree could be full of thousands of insects that are all living in the branches. While it is lovely to have a stunning Christmas tree from the great outdoors, you need to be careful how much of the great outdoors you bring into your home."
How to Protect Your Home From Festive Pests
Despite the potential for more insects this year, experts say there's no need to abandon the real tree tradition. Instead, they recommend taking a few extra precautions to ensure your celebrations remain pest-free.
Give the tree a thorough shake before bringing it inside to dislodge any lurking spiders and help you spot webs or egg clusters tucked between the branches. If you do find webs or egg sacs, gently remove them using a dusting brush or vacuum, avoiding harsh chemical sprays that could harm your family or damage the tree.
Ms Thorogood also advises checking your decoration boxes outdoors before bringing them inside, as spiders and other insects might have taken up residence in your stored decorations since last year.
To discourage pests from settling in, ensure your Christmas tree area is well-ventilated and the room is kept dry, as spiders and other pests thrive in damp, humid conditions.
If you do spot a spider in your home, there's no need to panic. These arachnids are completely harmless and won't damage your home or decorations. "If you do spot one, simply use the glass-and-paper method or a spider vacuum to relocate them outside," Ms Thorogood suggests. "They're just looking for somewhere warm to spend winter."
