Nothing makes the holidays brighter than a hundred baby spiders crawling on your walls. Am I right? Think this is impossible? Think again. Some spiders lay their eggs in trees for the winter, and those eggs are waiting for it to get warmer. Bringing a Christmas tree into the house can produce the perfect environment for spider eggs to hatch. And let’s not forget that rodents including mice and rats are also hoping for a safe place to nest in the winter. Your box labeled, “Holiday Decorations” could be just the place for many pests to thrive. Thankfully, to reduce the chances (and the panic) of finding pests this holiday season, I would like to offer a few tips to help control holiday pest infestations.

There are many ways bugs can ruin your holidays. Some aren’t nearly as severe as others but no matter what the rodent or insect, they are not very welcome under the tree, in the wreath, or dangling from your stockings. But with a few preventative measures, you can reduce your chances of bugs and rodents taking advantage of this joyous season, to torture you mercilessly.

Check and shake. If you are bringing something into your home from a cold storage place, like your garage, shed, or outside, make sure to check those items for insect activity, and shake them thoroughly. Spiders, moths, and mites nest in trees, wreaths, and other greenery. Look for webbing, cocoons, and sacs, and remove them.

Inspect. If you have decorations stored in your attic, basement, or garage, check them before you bring them into your living areas. Rodents, and a whole assortment of bugs, like to tuck themselves into boxes, especially if you store food items in those boxes. And, the last thing you need is to bring roaches into your home from a remote location, like the shed, or unattached garage.

Before you flip the lid open on those decoration boxes, check for pest activity, like: chew holes, droppings on the floor, or dead roaches laying belly up. This can prepare you for what you might find inside.

Wash. If you store cloth items, wash them before displaying them. This can prevent bugs from spreading.

After the holidays, try these tips to reduce unwanted guests next year.

Store in plastic. If you use an artificial tree, vacuum the branches–especially if you use food decorations–and store your tree in a plastic bag, or plastic bin. All of your decorations should be stored in hard plastic bins, if possible. Bugs are notorious hitchhikers. If they can’t get inside, they can’t hitch a ride into your home. Sealed hard plastic can also prevent the need to checking the contents each year.

Wash. Put cloth items through the wash again, to make them less of a target for moths and mites.

The holiday season should be a time of warmth, and happiness. Be cautious, and be vigilant to keep those pests outside, so you can enjoy your family time in peace. Those kids only stay tiny for so long.

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Peter Scala is a board-certified entomologist; he is also the Technical Supervisor as well as the President of Parkway Pest Services (http://www.parkwaypestservices.com).  Peter has extensive experience in many aspects of the pest control industry and is uniquely qualified to consult in every aspect of pest control. Contact Peter to learn more about controlling stubborn pests through comprehensive package programs that are available at Parkway Pest Services. These programs can help eliminate pests through every season, including the holidays, so that you don’t need to worry about the pest problems that are bound to pop up.