October not only marks the beginning of Halloween season, with its fake cobwebs and plastic spiders, but also the start of real spider season in the UK, as homes become prime targets for eight-legged invaders seeking warmth. Households are being urged to keep their windows closed at night to stop an influx of eight-legged visitors from crawling in while they sleep. With colder weather setting in and daylight hours shrinking, spiders are beginning to move indoors to escape the elements, and our warm, dry homes offer the perfect shelter.
Many of these intruders are male spiders, which become more active in autumn as they roam in search of a mate. Experts warn that most spiders are nocturnal, meaning they’re far more likely to make their way inside during the night, especially through open doors and windows.
Pest control professionals at PEST UK said: “Keep windows shut at night – Most spiders are nocturnal, so keep windows and doors closed while you sleep to prevent them from getting into your home at night.”
Even small gaps in walls, pipework, windows or drome frames should be filled and sealed to prevent them from becoming the next entry points for unwanted creepy crawlies during peak spider season.
A tidy and clean home will also make a big difference as cluttered spaces, especially dark and undisturbed corners offer the ideal hiding spots for spiders.
Keeping floors clear and regularly cleaning and dusting under beds, behind furniture, and in storage areas can reduce the chances of giving spiders a place to settle. Removing webs as soon as they appear will also discourage spiders from sticking around.
Additionally, homeowners are being encouraged to use strong-smelling scents such as citrus oils, peppermint, tea tree, or eucalyptus, which naturally repel spiders. A quick spritz along window sills and door frames can help deter them from entering. Vinegar is another option, though its strong scent may not be to everyone’s taste.
Pets, especially cats, may not eliminate spiders entirely, but they often help control the odd one or two. Meanwhile, removing dead insects from windowsills and doorways cuts off a potential food source and makes your home less appealing overall.
This might sound suprising but similarly to moths, spiders are also attracted to light. The experts at PEST UK say to turn outside lights off when they’re not in use and keeping doors and windows closed or blinds shut when the lights are on inside your home.
There are over 650 species of spider in the UK, and many households may be spotting more of them inside their homes right now. That’s because autumn marks mating season, when many male spiders reach adulthood and begin searching for females. This seasonal behaviour causes them to move around more and often into our homes.
Insect specialist at the Natural History Museum, Stuart Hine, said that it’s not necessarily that there are more spiders this year. What’s really happening is that a combination of mild weather and open doors and windows has led to a rise in sightings.
According to the specialist, a warm and dry autumn is ideal for male spiders to find mates, because they can roam more freely without being driven into hiding by heavy rain. This makes them more visible, especially to anyone with a fear of spiders.