The number of spiders invading British homes has shot up this year after a summer feeding frenzy, research suggests.
The arachnids have benefited from this summer's humid conditions, with scientists reporting a spike in the number of spiders creeping into properties.
The wet and warm weather has resulted in a 'lush, green' environment, providing the eight-legged animals with plenty to eat.
This has encouraged them to creep into homes to reproduce, according to a report.
Entomologists have been studying people's reports of spiders on social media through a method called ' Twitter mining'.
The University of Gloucestershire's arachnid experts claim the results appear to show that the 2019 'spider season' was busier than last year's.
Professor Adam Hart, of the University of Gloucestershire, told The Telegraph : "It certainly looks as if people are getting quite excited by it quite early this year.
“People are saying that they are seeing more than they normally do.”
He added that people should clean up their homes if they want to minimise the presence of spiders.
The professor said arachnids are drawn to mess, such as piles of clothes.
Some 650 species of spiders roam the UK, with 12 posing a threat to humans.
The most troublesome are false widows, which have a potentially lethal bite.
Lewis Pearce, from Southampton, previously claimed he was unable to walk after being bitten five times by poisonous false widow spiders while asleep in bed.
Mr Pearce said he had been told by his doctor that he suffered an allergic reaction to the spider's venom after he was bitten in July.
