Spiders are moving into your home so they have somewhere warm and cosy to get frisky.
That's because spider mating season is upon us and rampant males are shimmying through cracks in our walls, scurrying up our drainpipes, and slipping sneakily under doors in a desperate search for a mate.
The females tend to stay indoors because they prefer the warmth and are waiting patiently for their persistent partners to arrive.
This year, spiders have more reason to be indoors mainly due to the odd weather we've been having.
The warmer weeks have increased the arachnids' appetite, caused more insects to breed, and delivered a smorgasbord of crunchy meals to feast on.
As the weather turns cooler, the eight-legged crawlies are driven inside to keep their body temperatures stable.
The UK is home to 650 different species of spider and as a predatory insect, it will come as no surprise that some can inflict a nasty bite.
There are 12 spiders that cause humans pain and possibly the most feared is the false widow, named due to its likeness to the very poisonous black widow. This arachnid's bite can cause numbness and swelling, which could lead to gangrene if left untreated.
The rather common and enormous cardinal spider looks terrifying, largely due to its 12cm-long leg span, but its bite is rare and painless.
Another biter, the money spider, can paralyse its prey but leaves little more than a red mark on humans. According to superstition, if a money spider crawls on you, good financial fortune is on its way. Might be worth keeping some of these indoors after all.
The giant house spider, named so because of its massive 10cm leg span, has fangs big enough to penetrate human skin. It's also lightning-fast - the quickest spider on earth. Thankfully, it's reluctant to bite humans and even if it did, it isn't very venomous.
One of the most venomous spiders in the UK, the walnut orb weaver, isn't deadly but still packs a strong bite. Just a nibble and the site will become painful, swollen and numb.
Rather than swatting away our eight-legged friends, who have only come inside to warm themselves up, here are some polite ways of removing them from your abode.
The safest way is by using the tried and trusted method of placing a glass over the "fascinating" creatures and sliding a piece of card underneath, Dr Helen Hill, Conservation Officer at the British Arachnological Society, told the Mirror Online.
1. Web removal
Sometimes our eight-legged housemates like to weave a web in our houseplants — and if you do happen to spot a spider hanging out on its web, there's an easy way to send it packing.
Break off the leaves/twigs/shoots the web is constructed between and, holding the web intact, take the spider outside. No more web, and no more spider.
2. The cup and glass method
Probably the most popular method for getting rid of spiders, all you need is a cup or glass (pint glasses or even bowls might be needed to catch some of the big ones) and bit of card or paper — unopened letters are excellent as they possess enough sturdiness not to wobble terrifyingly as you coax incy wincy into the glass.
Simply pop the glass/cup over the spider, gently slide the card underneath it (taking care not to trap any spider legs) and transport the spider outside before setting him free.
All you need to do now is work up the courage to approach it. And it's not true at all that they take less than an hour to find their way back into your home. AT ALL.
3. The tapping method
A good way to stop spiders squirming in transit, apparently, but a method for the less arachnophobic among you as this involves (gulp) just you, the spider, and a wide open dustpan.
Which means it could, technically, get onto your face.
Still, if you're brave enough, gently ease the spider into a dustpan, then lightly tap the underside of the dustpan while carrying it outside. The vibrations stop the spider from moving, meaning you're less likely to scream and throw the dustpan, and spider, in the air.
4. Repel spiders with conkers
Conkers have been used as a spider repellant for centuries now and many swear by this age-old technique.
Perfect for Autumn when the critters come out to play - conkers are readily available in parks and country lanes across the UK at this time of year.
Just place a handful of conkers in a bowl on a window sill and wait to watch the spiders disappear.
5. Peppermint oil
Top of the list and perhaps the easiest (and most fragrant) is to use peppermint oil to deter our eight-legged friends.
After cleaning your home, you can mix up a two-part solution by adding around 20 drops of peppermint oil to a bottle of water.
Simply pour this into a spray bottle and spritz all around your house.
Plus citrus and eucalyptus are also good alternatives.
You can peel lemons and oranges and leave the peel in places where spiders might like to hide to put them off, but replace it regularly as the aroma won’t last forever.
6. Clean up
Keeping your house clean is the most effective way to deter spiders.
Dust and vacuum any spider webs or egg sacs (which will be ball shaped, and often hidden in the web) waiting to hatch.
Spiders will be less eager to return when their offspring and habitats have been removed. If you do this as soon as you spot them, it will make cleaning a whole lot easier.
Additionally, make sure you don’t miss those neglected nooks or crannies, because dark, undisturbed spaces are inviting to spiders. A tidy home is also important when trying to keep spiders away.
Store things in airtight containers rather than cardboard boxes, so spiders can’t get into them.
7. Cover up gaps
Minimise the amount of cracks or gaps in your floorboards, windows and doors. These spaces are where most spiders will gain access to your house.
If you seal them, however, it will make life much more difficult for them. Try using a fine mesh over any large holes or air vents to stop particularly big spiders from entering.
8. Encourage your pets to play with them
Dogs or cats will chase and catch almost anything, making spiders that run across the floor perfect targets.
Cats, in particular, will be good at the job because of their natural hunting instincts. They will also frighten the spiders.
9. Lights off
Never leave the light on with the windows open as the light will attract moths and other insects.
And these insects make up the staple diet of big house spiders. With a vast food source available in your home, spiders will just be encouraged to move in.
10. Save citrus peels
Especially lemon or a lime, because they can help keep unwanted spiders away. Like peppermint, spiders hate the natural aroma of citrus peels.
Place them on your window sills, on top of bookcases or in any other small spaces that may be appealing to the creepy crawlies.
Replace these every three or four days so the peels don’t dry out and lose their natural fragrance.
11. Use home-made deterrents
Spray peppermint oils around your windows and doors to deter spiders, because they don’t like the fragrance. You can make your own spray by mixing 10 to 15 drops of peppermint oil with water.
A spray bottle will allow you to dispense the fragrance with ease. Not only will you have fewer spiders around but your house will smell minty fresh. To get the best results, use several times a day.
The British Arachnological Society told the Mirror Online: "If you really don’t want to share your home with some of GBs 670+ species of spiders, and enjoy their fascinating company plus free fly control, the best way to remove them is to place a glass over them and slide a piece of card underneath.
"They can then be transported to the garden. Some of the spider removing devices available commercially are also effective and don’t damage the spiders – remember these are very delicate animals.
"Swatting spiders does not increase the risk of further ’infestation’ but certainly doesn’t reduce it either.
"It’s a rather sad way to treat wildlife! Many people who are mildly arachnophobic can recover from it by understanding more about the spiders they share their lives with – we had many Twitter followers for whom their spider flatmates were a real lifeline during lockdown!
"Readers are welcome to follow us on Twitter @britishspiders as well as accessing the wealth of information on our website http://britishspiders.org.uk, including factsheets on common spider species at http://britishspiders.org.uk/factsheets."
