Spider Season: Experts Explain Why Homes Are Teeming with Arachnids This Autumn
As a seasonal surge in spider activity occurs, experts clarify the reasons behind increased sightings and offer practical advice for homeowners.
Autumn brings an increase in spider activity, with many homeowners reporting more eight-legged visitors in their homes. Experts explain that this surge is primarily due to the spiders' mating season, a natural occurrence that leads them to seek shelter and potential mates indoors.
While the sight of spiders can be alarming, most of the over 650 species found in the UK are harmless to humans and prefer to avoid contact. Common species include large house spiders, common house spiders, and cellar spiders, alongside others like missing-sector orb weavers and garden spiders. The noble false widow is one species that can deliver a painful bite, though the likelihood of being bitten is low, according to Niall Gallagher of the British Pest Control Association. He advises against handling spiders or trapping them against the skin.
Contrary to popular belief, spiders do not enter homes in autumn primarily to escape the cold. Instead, the warmer indoor environment and the presence of other insects can be more enticing during their mating season.
Several home remedies, such as placing conkers on windowsills or using peppermint sprays, are often suggested to deter spiders. However, experts like Gallagher note that there is limited scientific evidence to support their effectiveness. While some studies suggest mint oil may repel certain species, results can vary, and these methods are not a substitute for sealing potential entry points into the home.
To make homes less inviting to spiders, experts recommend several practical steps. Regular decluttering and vacuuming can help remove webs and egg sacs. Sealing gaps and cracks around pipes, vents, windows, and doors is crucial for preventing entry. Keeping the home clean, especially kitchen surfaces, storing food in sealed containers, and regularly emptying bins can deter insects, which in turn reduces a food source for spiders.
Additionally, trimming outdoor vegetation that touches exterior walls or windows can eliminate easy pathways for spiders to enter the house.
For those who encounter a spider indoors, a humane removal method involves using a glass or container and a stiff piece of card. Place the container over the spider, then slide the card underneath to trap it before carefully carrying it outside. Residents have taken to social media platforms like TikTok to share their experiences with the influx of spiders, with some posting videos expressing alarm at the number and size of the arachnids they are encountering.
Recent research has also explored the evolutionary basis for arachnophobia, suggesting that a fear of spiders may be an ingrained survival trait, dating back to early human evolution in Africa where venomous spiders posed a significant threat.