Thousands of giant spiders ‘the size of your hand’ set to invade UK homes

Sex season for spiders approaches

Love Island may have ended, but another sex-crazed species is set to invade UK homes as their mating season begins. With the first brown leaf falling, British spiders tend to travel indoors to stretch their eight legs in search of a mate. Female spiders are known to stay in one place for most of their lives, often setting up shop in our homes. Whereas, the males of the species, often travel in search of food, shelter and sex. Ecologist Dr Chris Terrell-Nield of Nottingham Trent University explained that house spiders can be up to 10cm long and can be as big as a hand. "The spider that is coming into houses at the moment is the house spider, and it is one of Britain's biggest spiders. "The males are up to 10cm across the leg span and can be the size of your hand - that is the top range, but it can be two-thirds of that size. "The size is down to how much they have eaten. They are not dangerous but they can give you a nip." He added: "This time of the year, August and September, the male spiders have the urge to mate and start wandering and looking for females. "When they find them they mate and she lays eggs and the male usually dies."

Top Tips for keeping men away, but specifically spiders:

Should you want to keep the eight-legged creatures from your home, then ensure it is as clean and tidy as possible. Arachnids love dark and cluttered places. It is also suggested to leave your curtains open during the day or when you are away for prolonged periods of time. Get out your armoury of essential oils, specifically any that are particularly strong, like peppermint. Spiders have sensory organs on their legs, so dousing your house in sufficient amounts of strong scents can deter the critters from exploring your abode.