Oh my lord, what are these things? Help!

[LadyinRead]

I think they came in with the Christmas tree. My whole sitting room has been invaded! What are they and how do I get rid?
They leave a brownish stain when squished.

Oh jeez don't know but I hope someone comes along to help

Look like beetles. Can't see the pictures very well. Are they red? Could be a cardinal beetle. They like wood. Vacuum them up. Empty vacuum outside into a bag that you then seal up and put into your wheelie bin. I 'd probably want to put down some beetle traps or insecticide after that. I'm nervous. My sympathy is with you.

Thank you. They aren't red, they're dark brown and quite small (

Another friend suggested sawflies. (Never even heard of those!)

Pine aphids?

Where did you get your tree? I wouldn't go there again! They could be cinara aphids, they don't normally get wings outside but inside they can apparently. Get rid of any plants you have in the area and they should all be dead in a week.

Sawflies come from caterpillars, disgusting things they are, the adults only live for a week to 10 days though so you probably would have seen the caterpillars if you've only just noticed the flies I'd have thought.

I got the tree from a local tree farm that I've used for the past four years or so. Never had any problems before and the chap is really nice. Maybe I should contact him to let him know.

I haven't seen any caterpillars. Thank god!

It's a Norway Spruce tree, if that makes any difference. (Rather than a pine.)

I've looked at pictures of the pine aphids and cinera aphids but I'm not sure. These ones don't look 'bulbous' at all if that makes sense.

They don't look like aphids to me.

Sawflies are horrible and really bite! Left me with a swollen leg/ankle for 4/5 days!!

There is a pine sawflie in the uk

Contact the man you bought your tree from and a ask him if he can identify the insects.

Thanks everyone! I have contacted the seller. Hopefully he won't take offence.
I don't think I've been bitten.

Seller got back to me. Said he has no idea but thanks for letting him know and had never heard of anything like it.

Christmas Tree bugs ?

Think I'll stick with my artificial tree.

They are conifer aphids. The eggs will have been on the tree and after being nice and warm in your house for a few weeks they have hatched out. It happened to me a couple of years ago, never happened before or since. You’ve just been unlucky and got an infested tree. Throw the tree out and squish any remaining bugs.

Oh hang on I see they have wings... maybe jumping plant lice then? Same advice applies, get rid of the tree and squish bugs.

@ElftonWednesday

Think I'll stick with my artificial tree.

Me too

@ElftonWednesday

Think I'll stick with my artificial tree.

I confess I was thinking this way and I've never had an artificial tree in my life!

Whatever they are I hope they/their offspring don't go after my houseplants!

Tree will be going outside tomorrow and I will get busy squishing. I found another 50 or so of the critters fried to death on an exposed lightbulb this morning so I might leave that lamp on for a couple of weeks.

Thanks everyone.