Although it’s not spider mating season yet, you may be horrified to hear there will still be plenty of the often-dreaded eight-legged critters hiding in your home.
Because while you’re more likely to see them when they’re looking for mates during autumn, they’ve probably been residing in your house all year.
Blackhurst says that with around 650 species of arachnids in the UK, there are less than a dozen that can commonly be seen in our homes, including the lesser house spider
False widow spiders are increasingly being sighted in the UK too, but they’re nocturnal, and rarely come out during the day, says Blackhurst
They prefer to be hidden away in cracks close to their web, and generally they are solitary, preferring a dry warm environment where they will not be disturbed
He says false widows can bite if squeezed or accidentally provoked, but this is rare and the bite usually only causes temporary pain of similar intensity to a wasp or bee sting.
Spiders in homes will commonly be found in rooms with a water source, because they need water and so does their prey.