This is due to higher-than-normal summer temperatures (which led to an increase in the number of flies, which in turn serve as a food source for spiders), as well as unusually early rains last month, which brought spiders back into our homes. The rains also caused the spiders’ prey to become trapped in their webs, which in turn led to an increase in the spider population.
Some northern residents report seeing spiders up to 7.5 centimeters long crawling into their homes—enough to send shivers down many people’s spines.
These weather conditions have led to news headlines such as “Hungry, Huge Spiders That Can Trigger Burglar Alarms Are Invading Our Homes.”
This refers to the temptation of male house spiders (belonging to the genus Tegenaria) to enter buildings in search of warmth, shelter and mates.
Of course, the vast majority of the more than 670 spider species native to the UK don’t typically enter our homes. The vast majority live in the wild, such as hedgerows and woodlands, while raft spiders live underwater.
But if you find one in your home, don’t panic. While these furry creatures may look a little scary, they’re far more fascinating than frightening.
But try talking to my wife, or to the millions of people who suffer from irrational arachnophobia (also known as arachnophobia).
This phobia is often passed down from parents to children. Although children are naturally inclined to pick up spiders and show them to their parents, asking their opinion, if the adults’ first reaction is a scream of horror, they will likely never touch a spider again.
Some argue that people’s fear of spiders is due to the fact that ancient people, during the course of evolution, learned to be wary of any unfamiliar creatures.
However, as spider expert Helen Smith points out, spiders are revered rather than hated in many cultures, even though they live among deadly and venomous species.
Another reason we find spiders scary is their speed. In reality, they only move about one mile per hour. But in terms of relative size, if a house spider were the size of a human, it would definitely outrun Usain Bolt!
In fact, evolution has made spiders fast and unpredictable to evade predators like cats and birds. Don’t panic when you see a spider; instead, admire their amazing life.
Helen Smith says: “Learning to recognise females (which are larger) is the beginning of understanding their extraordinary life stories and helps turn fear into interest.”
Female spiders typically reach a length of about six centimeters, with each leg extending approximately one inch, for a total length of about three centimeters. Male spiders are smaller and have longer legs.
Another way to tell them apart is to look at the male’s “tentacles”: two small projections extending from the head and used for feeling objects.
These tentacles play a crucial role in mating. Before finding a female, the male spider squeezes out a drop of sperm and sucks it into each of his tentacles. It may not be romantic, but it’s certainly practical. Female spiders live the longest—two years or more—but they typically hide in their webs, which are typically found in dark corners of garages or sheds, although they can also appear in your home.
Besides house spiders, you may also encounter long-legged spiders, which get their name from their resemblance to long-legged flies (or centipedes), which are also common insects in the fall.
Residents of some northern areas report seeing spiders up to 7.5 centimeters long crawling into their homes.
Although this spider is considered to have the most deadly venom of any creature in Britain, fortunately, its mouthparts are too small to pierce human skin. Like many other so-called “facts” about spiders, the claim that they are dangerous to humans is pure urban legend. True, this seemingly fragile spider can kill much larger prey (including house spiders) with its venom, but there’s absolutely no need to worry.
Long-legged spiders were introduced to the UK from Europe in the early 20th century and have since spread across northern England, Wales and Scotland, mainly by riding on furniture in delivery vans.
In the years after World War II, spider expert Bill Bristol traveled the country, inspecting guesthouse rooms and studying the spider’s range.
You can determine if a spider has taken up residence in your home by looking in the corners of the ceiling, especially in cool rooms like the bathroom. If you see a thin, flowing web with a spider inside, you can gently poke it with a pencil—the spider will quickly twitch its entire body, which it uses to evade predators and confuse prey.
This spider may look inconspicuous, but its long legs allow it to spit out sticky webs and snatch any prey that floats past.
This insect is now common in the south of England, and its bite can be quite painful – somewhat similar to a bee sting – but like most reptiles, it is not aggressive; it must be provoked to attack.
But that was the worst they could have done. Fortunately, reports of hordes of deadly spiders attacking passersby turned out to be pure fiction.
Spiders should be encouraged: they are beautiful, help kill pests, and spend a lot more time with us than you might think.
I agree with him. But please don’t tell my wife that I’m inviting spiders into the house, otherwise I’ll be in big trouble.
Unfortunately, when releasing the spider, the air flow cannot be changed – it can only be shaken out of the device, which is not so easy.
This is a vacuum straw powered by a 9-volt battery. The length is just right for holding a spider at arm’s length, but the diameter seemed a bit small to me. I tried it on a medium-sized spider that had climbed a wall and was hiding behind a picture frame. While the suction wasn’t very strong, simply pressing the straw against the spider’s surface was enough to pull it out without causing any harm.
Unfortunately, when releasing the spider, you can’t change the airflow direction—instead, you have to shake it out of the device, which isn’t a very quick process.
It works on the same principle as covering a postcard with glass, but the 24-inch handle keeps those pesky little insects out of reach.
Catching a spider on the floor is easy. Simply cover the spider with a clear plastic lid and slide the bottom door underneath. The thin plastic lid won’t damage the spider’s legs when closing. However, keep in mind that the door is fragile and sometimes doesn’t latch securely, so the spider may try to escape.
This method is effective as long as the spider doesn’t move; otherwise, you’ll likely cut off its legs or crush it.
This is a sturdy, small device capable of catching small to medium-sized reptiles. It works well if the spider isn’t too active, otherwise you’ll likely cut off its legs or crush it. Once the spider is trapped, the green plastic door lifts easily, trapping the spider inside for safe release.
This insect trap resembles an old-fashioned flintlock pistol and also uses a suction system. It comes with a handy LED flashlight to help you find and catch these little creatures in dark corners. It runs on two AA batteries, and while the suction isn’t very strong, it successfully pulled a medium-sized spider out of my closet. The trap has a locking mechanism to prevent insects from escaping. However, given the tube’s diameter is only 1.5 inches, I’m concerned that larger spiders might not be able to fit inside.
This product contains the insecticides permethrin and tetrafluoroethylene, which kill not only spiders but also other insects, including bees. It can be used both indoors and outdoors and leaves no residue, sticky residue, or odor, but I still can’t bring myself to kill harmless spiders.
Once the insect is caught, it’s recommended to “crush” it. I find this method effective, but I don’t like it.
This insect trap consists of three sticky cardboard traps that fold into small triangular “houses” to catch not only spiders but also ants, woodlice, cockroaches, beetles, and other crawling insects. The traps are non-toxic and safe for children and pets. However, I used mine for a whole week and didn’t catch a single insect.
So, what are some natural ways to get rid of spiders in the house? Horse chestnuts placed on a windowsill are said to repel spiders. Enterprising eBay sellers have already noticed this: horse chestnuts can fetch up to £20 per kilogram.
Post time: Nov-21-2025